September 2013 at the Keepmoat Stadium, DoncasterstSaturday, 21
Skybet League Championship
Rovers 2 Nottingham Forest 2
Referee – Mr Andy Haines
Attendance – 12,253 (4,166 visitors)
Kiko Macheda scored a brace in his home debut to help Rovers secure a point against Billy Davies' Nottingham Forest.
A fine, bright, cool afternoon presented itself for today’s match against Nottingham Forest.
For the Rovers David Cotterill and James Coppinger were dropped to the bench and Dean Furman and Federico Macheda replaced them in the starting line-up.
For Forest they showed three changes from their last game against Middlesbrough. Kelvin Wilson and Simon Cox were out with injury and replaced by Greg Halford and Darius Henderson. New loan signing, Nathaniel Chalobah, from Chelsea replaced Radoslav Majewski, who dropped to the bench.
Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.
Turnbull was in action twice in the first two minutes after Reid and Mackie both had strikes at goal from outside of the area but the keeper saved comfortably.
In the 5th minute the Rovers won the first corner, followed by another one but nothing came from them.
Despite the visitors having slightly the better of the possession, a quick break down the right by Brown and a low cross was met by Robinson and Lichaj, together in the challenge, the ball going out for a goal kick.
A corner to Forest was headed clear by Khumalo and a shot by Mackie from near the right byline, was saved at the near post by Turnbull.
In the 17th minute, Wabara and Keegan got in a tangle near the corner flag and let in a Forest player but Khumalo made a last ditch tackle and the danger passed.
In the 20th minute, Reid met a corner from Forest left with a volley about 16yards out, but it was deflected for a corner.
Minutes later a cross from Rovers right by Wabara came out of the Forest defence to Macheda but Darlow saved the shot.
On the half hour Keegan placed a free kick from the left to the far post where Jones headed back to the middle for Robinson, who stabbed the ball goalwards as he fell, Darlow making the save.
In the 35th minute, a Forest attack broke down and the ball cleared out of the Rovers defence caught the Forest back line square as Robinson got the ball and went forwards before squaring to MACHEDA, on his left. His low shot from the edge of the area went into the bottom far corner of the net.
The 40 th minute brought an equaliser for the Forest when Reid, on the left flank, passed inside to COHEN, on the angle of the area. A terrific left foot shot nestled in the top far corner of the net.
Minutes later the Rovers nearly went in front but the Forest defence managed to put the ball out for a corner as Wellens and Robinson tried to score. The half came to an end following a couple of Forest corners.
Half Time – Doncaster Rovers 1 Nottingham Forest 1
The game was even in the early minutes of the second half, with both sides in attacking mode.
Then, in the 52nd minute, Brown won the ball off Cohen, halfway in the Forest half. He took it on down the right before giving to Wellens, who crossed low to the far post for MACHEDA to rifle into the net.
Four minutes on and Reid, with a free kick in a central position 25yards out, placed his shot just inside a post but Turnbull, diving left, tipped it out for a corner.
Forest continued to push forward, with Reid firing over the bar just past the hour.
Then a corner to Forest reached Reid but he fired over from the edge of the area.
Derbyshire had a tame close range effort saved and Henderson put wide from the left.
In the 73rd minute a corner to the Rovers was played out to Wellens, who crossed to the near post where Robinson headed wide.
To and fro the game went, with Forest striving hard to get on level terms. In the 81st minute they succeeded when REID fired into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Minutes later and Derbyshire put in a good cross but Henderson, at close range, miskicked and Turnbull was able to collect the ball.
In added time a cross from Cohen on the visiting left brought a header from Lichaj but Turnbull saved well.
A thrilling and entertaining match ended with honours even
Result – Doncaster Rovers (Macheda 35 52) 2 Nottingham Forest 2 (Cohen 40 Reid 81)
Teams – ROVERS – Ross Turnbull; Reece Wabara, Bongani Khumalo, Rob Jones ©, James Husband; Theo Robinson, Paul Keegan, Richie Wellens, Dean Furman; Chris Brown, Federico Macheda
Subs used – Paul Quinn for Wabara 58 mins; James Coppinger for Macheda 69 mins; David Cotterill for Robinson 81 mins;
Subs not used – Mark Duffy, Luke McCullough, Kyle Bennett, Jon Maxted gk
Caution – Macheda 52, Wellens 90 mins
Nottingham Forest – Karl Darlow; Eric Lichaj, Jack Hobbs, Greg Halford, Chris Cohen ©; Djamal Abdoun, Nathaniel Chalobah, Henri Lansbury, Andy Reid; Jamie Mackie, Darius Henderson
Subs used – Jamie Paterson for Abdoun 63 mins; Radoslaw Majewski for Chalobah 63 mins; Matt Derbyshire for Mackie 70 mins;
– Danny Collins, Guy Moussi, Gonzalo Jara, Dorus de Vries gkSubs not used