August 2013 at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster thFriday, 16
Skybet League Championship
Doncaster Rovers 2 Blackburn Rovers 0
Referee – Mt Geoff Eltringham
Attendance – 8,707 (1,454 visitors)
A fine, warm and sunny evening brought these two Rovers clubs into opposition for the first time in 55 years.
The home Rovers got the game underway and immediately took the play into their opponent’s half but the visitors held firm and in the 4th minute won a corner, which was cleared by the home defence.
Three minutes later and some good work on the right by the home team saw Wellens thread a through ball for Coppinger to run on to but the keeper, Kean, beat him to it.
In the 9th minute, a long ball from the halfway line had Brown cutting in from the right in a race to get there before the keeper. He just managed to slide in and touch it past the keeper but saw the ball roll agonisingly past the far post.
Minutes later and Husband crossed from the left but Brown headed high and wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Then, as the home team attacked again, Brown touched the ball on to Cotterill on the left and his terrific curling strike from 20yards stretched Kean who was equal to the task.
In the 16th minute, Coppinger paled a through ball down the middle, Robinson got to it but the keeper had come out quickly and blocked him on the 18yard line, giving the defence chance to clear.
A minute later and a cross from Judge was met by Jordan Rhodes who saw his effort punched away by Turnbull.
It was fast paced end-to-end stuff and in the 28th minute a cross ball to Rhodes on the Blackburn inside right position put him clear. Turnbull came out to meet him; Rhodes took the ball round him before shooting for the empty net but he saw his effort go the wrong side of the far post.
On the half hour a cross from Husband on the left eventually reached Coppinger in the area. His snapshot took a deflection but Kean did well to save it.
Minutes later and a corner from Cairney on the Blackburn right was headed over the bar by Lowe.
In the 37th minute came the breakthrough for the Rovers of Doncaster. A free kick on the right touchline halfway in the Blackburn half was headed in by new boy ROBINSON from close range.
Straight from the re-start Kane got forward on a run but blasted well wide from 30yards. Then Turnbull dived at the feet of Rhodes to blunt another attack.
Two minutes of added time left the score at a single goal lead for the home team.
Half Time – Doncaster Rovers 1 Blackburn Rovers 0
The visitors kicked off but it was the home team who went on to the attack down their right flank but they were eventually repulsed.
At the other end Taylor tried his luck from 25yards but put wide. Then three corners in succession for Blackburn brought no final reward as Taylor headed the final one wide.
In the 58th minute, a free kick to the home team on their left halfway into the Blackburn half put HUSBAND away. He hit a cracking ball across that flew into the far top corner of the net.
Past the hour and a free kick to the home team on their right was headed past the keeper by Brown at the far post. Brown’s effort was probably going into the net however Robinson tried to make sure of the goal however was ruled offside.
Blackburn were not beaten and they tried hard to get something from the game but the home defence were not giving anything away. In the 71st minute a good cross from the home left by Cotterill dropped to Brown in the area but his shot was half blocked and the sting taken out of it for Kean to save.
A minute later and a cross by Spurr from the Blackburn left was headed wide by Best at the far post. Minutes later and Rhodes laid the ball back for Judge to shoot from 25yards but it was well over the bar. The same player had another go from the same distance some minutes later but he put it well wide.
The match continued to the end of four minutes added time going back and forth as both sides went for goals, Blackburn to get something from it and the home team to add to their score.
It had been an entertaining match and, in the end, a good win for the Rovers, only their second over their namesakes from Blackburn.
Full Time – Doncaster Rovers 2 Blackburn Rovers 0
Teams – ROVERS – Ross Turnbull; Reece Wabara, Bongani Khumalo, Rob Jones ©, James Husband; David Cotterill, Paul Keegan, Richie Wellens, James Coppinger; Theo Robinson, Chris Brown
Subs used – Mark Duffy for Robinson 76 mins; David Syers for Cotterill 90+2 mins;
Subs not used - Paul Quinn, Billy Paynter, Luke McCullough, Kyle Bennett, Jon
Maxted gk
Caution – Brown 32 mins;
Blackburn Rovers – Jake Kean; Todd Kane, Scott Dann ©, Grant Hanley, Tommy Spurr; Chris Taylor, David Dunne, Jason Lowe, Alan Judge; Tom Cairney, Jordan Rhodes
Subs used – Corry Evans for Cairney 60 mins; Josh Morris for Dunne 66 mins; Leon Best for Taylor 66 mins;
Subs not used - Josh King, Alex Marrow, Gael Givet, Simon Eastwood gk
– Judge 11 mins; Hanley 62 mins;Caution