Curtis the Main man for Rovers.
Doncaster Rovers 2 Wabara (59) Main (69)
Bradford City 1 Stead (45+)
Coral Windows Stadium
November 2014stSaturday 1
Sky Bet League One
Curtis Main scored a brilliant second half goal to give Rovers all three-points against Bradford.
The hosts led 1-0 at half time, thanks to a brilliant individual effort from Jon Stead. However, Reece Wabara equalised for Rovers before Main netted the winner, in a second half spell that changed the match.
A ferocious start to the match from both sides saw plenty of early tackles, as expected in a Derby match. Rovers had the better of the opening stages and twice had chances.
First Curtis Main headed at Jordan Pickford but couldn’t get enough power to trouble the keeper. Then Richie Wellens hit an effort with his left foot, which was pushed away from goal and just away from the on rushing Kyle Bennett.
After that the Banatams had the better of the first half, which saw Sam Johnstone forced into action much more often than he would have liked. First he saved a Filipe Morais effort, which looked certain to be going in.
Cedric Evina was stretched off after 34 minutes and was replaced by Liam Wakfield, which saw Reece Wabara switch to left back.
Bradford kept attacking the Rovers defence, and Johnstone made another brilliant save, when McCullough almost headed into his own goal.
Jon Stead then found half a yard of space on the edge of the Rovers penalty area and smashed his effort into the top corner, to give his side a deserved lead.
Bradford sensed a chance to add a second before half time, but a double save from Johnstone kept it at 1-0, going into the break.
Rovers came out at the second half trying to get back into the match as soon as possible and Luke McCullough had a golden opportunity with a header from a few yards out, but put it over the bar.
The introduction of Harry Forrester seemed to change the whole emphasis of Rovers going forward.
The goal gave Rovers the momentum and ten minutes later Main netted the winner, after being slipped in by Richie Wellens.
On 59 minutes, a fantastic cross from Liam Wakefield picked out his fellow full back and the back post and Wabara headed in the equaliser.
Rovers rested on what they had for the final 20 minutes and Bradford tested the defence with cross after cross, but all the hard work from Johnstone had been done in the first half and despite a few punches he wasn’t tested too often.
All of the Rovers players dug in to hold on to all three points, and give manager Paul Dickov the best of birthday presents.
Team details -).Robinson, 82 Coppinger, Tyson, Main (,)Forrester, 57), Wabara, McCullough, Butler, Keegan, Wellens, Bennett (Wakefield, 34 Johnstone, Evina (Rovers:
Subs not used – Marosi, Furman, McCombe, De-Val.
(Evina 22), (Wellens, 64) (Keegan, 69)Cautions –
Bradford:.Dolan, 78)), Morais, Halliday (Clarke, 58), Yeates, Stead (McBurnie, 90Pickford, Darby, Meredith, Davies, Sheehan, Hanson, Knott (
Subs not used – Williams, Kennedy, Routis, Mottley-Henry.
)Davies, 87Cautions – (
Attendance –13,348 (911 away)