Leyton Orient 0-1 Doncaster Rovers
Orient 0
Rovers 1 (Jones 56)
Tuesday 14th April, 2015
Matchroom Stadium, London
Sky Bet League One
Kick off 7.45pm
Rovers captain Rob Jones returned to the starting line-up for the first time since September and his second half header gave Doncaster victory over struggling Leyton Orient.
Manager Paul Dickov made three changes to the side which drew 1-1 with Rochdale on Saturday, with Harry Middleton and Cedric Evina coming into the side alongside Jones.
The O’s currently embroiled in a relegation battle in League One made the brightest start and former Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena almost gave the home side the lead. Ryan Hedges whipped in a fantastic ball finding Dossena at the back post, but the Italian could only prod wide from six yards.
Orient had another great chance inside the 27th minute, Marvin Bartley whipped in a fine ball to find which found Darius Henderson, but Stephen Bywater pulled off a fantastic save from point blank range to keep the scores level.
James Coppinger forced Alex Cisak into a good save, his curling effort from 30 yards looked to be heading for the top corner, but for the Orient stopper.
Curtis Main almost gave Rovers the lead just before the interval, Kyle Bennett broke before finding the striker free in the box, but he could only scuff his shot wide.
Half Time: Leyton Orient 0-0 Doncaster Rovers
Dickov altered the formation at the break, introducing Jonson Clarke-Harris at the break and the move paid dividends as Doncaster bossed the start of the second half.
Bennett then tested Cisak once again with a long range effort, but the on loan Burnley keeper denied Rovers again.
Rovers then took a deserved lead when captain JONES met Bennett’s free-kick with a powerful header followed by a big celebration from the captain in front of the away following.
Shane Lowry had a great chance to level the scores from an Orient corner, but Rovers once again had Bywater to thank for pulling off another stunning save to retain Doncaster’s lead.
Bywater in fine form for the Rovers was on hand to deny the home side once again, this time denying Josh Wright from 18 yards with another fine save.
In the final ten minutes The O’s had wave after wave of attack but Jones threw himself at everything as the Rovers defence rallied to keep a first clean sheet since February.
Substitute Jay Simpson had a late attempt to steal a point, but Bywater pulled off another magnificent save to cap a heroic performance in goal to earn Doncaster a first win in four matches.
Full Time: Leyton Orient 0-1 Doncaster Rovers
Rovers: Bywater, Wabara, Butler, Jones, Evina (Stevens 56), Middleton (Clarke-Harris 46), Wellens, Furman, Bennett, Coppinger, Main (McCombe 82).
Unused Subs: Marosi, Forrester, Mandeville, Tyson.
Cautions: Wabara, Jones, Evina.
Orient: Cisak, Dossena (Lowry 63), Baudry, Clarke, Cuthbert, McAnuff (Mooney 78), Wright, Bartley, Hedges (Simpson 72), Henderson, Dagnall.
Unused Subs: Sargeant, James, O’Neill, Taylor.
Cautions: Clarke, Wright, Bartley, Henderson.
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