REPORT
James Coppinger marked his 500th senior Rovers appearance with a goal as Rovers hammered Morecambe.
Morecambe 1
Rovers 5
(Butler 3, Marquis 17,, 66, Blair 74, Coppinger 80)
Saturday August 20
Globe Arena, Morecambe
Sky Bet League Two
James Coppinger marked his 500th senior Rovers appearance with a goal as Rovers hammered Morecambe.
Coppinger scored the final goal to cap off a day of celebration, as Rovers bounced back from last week's disappointing loss t Crewe.
Boss Darren Ferguson made one change, with Frazer Richzrdson ruled out due to a knock suffered on his debut at Crewe last week. Harry Middleton came into the starting XI. Matty Blair dropped to right-back.
Rovers started well and took the lead after just three minutes. Blair's cross from the right was headed over by Ryan Edwards to concede a corner.
James Coppinger took the set-piece, Middleton flicked the ball on from a central position and Andy Butler was there to stab the ball home.
Andy Williams went close to a second when he broke through with eight minutes on the clock, but his shot went just wide of the far post.
The second goal came after 17 minutes. Middleton broke down the right and his excellent pull back bypassed the home keeper Barry Roche, a defender slipped when he had a routine clearance and John Marquis was left with a simple tap-in
Marquis could have got on the scoresheet again when he met a Coppinger cross a the far post after 25 minutes, but his flicked effort was just wide.
Fittingly, Coppinger was on the ball running down the left as the stadium clock hit 26 minutes and the away fans burst into song in honour of the man of the moment.
He was brought down for a free-kick, but there was to be no magic moment as a short free-kick routine came to nothing.
Williams should have made it three just before the break when Evina broke down the left. He beat the right-back and put in an inviting cross, which was just too far ahead of the No.11.
The second-half looked to be petering out until the 43rd minute. Cole Stockton was perhaps afforded a bit too much time, but his half-volley was a brilliant finish to haul the Shrimpers back into the game
HALF-TIME: Morecambe 1 Rovers 2
Rovers' first chance after the break fell to Coppinger. He took a moment to set himself and his powerful shot had Roche beaten but went just wide of the far post.
Butler also went close after 53 minutes after a smart period of play from Rovers. He was again in the middle as the ball was played in, with a smart goalline clearance from Ellison denying him as he was about to
wheel away and celebrate his second of the game. When the ball was played back in, Rowe's header went just over.
Ferguson made his first change just before the hour mark, with Riccarodo Calder coming on in his place.
It was 3-1 shortly afterwards though, even if we were denied the magic of Coppinger marking his 500th appearance with a goal.
Jordan Houghton played him in down the right and he cut inside, before letting fly with a shot that was too powerful for Roche. The Morecambe keeper did keep it out, though, via his legs, but it was only as far as
Marquis who turned in his second of the afternoon.
And Matty Blair made it 4-1 with a stunning individual goal. He got away down the right and cut inside to leave one man on the floor. He does it again for good measure to a second defender, before slotting the ball home into the far corner.
The Rovers fans were desperate to see Coppinger score, and that eventually came. The home defence gave him far too much space, and he promptly drove a stunning low shot iintot he bottom-left corner.
The players reacted in style, with his team-mates coming together to hoist him up in the air in celebration.
He was given a standing ovation, from both sets of fans, as he was replaced by Alfie Beestin for the final stages. His job for the day was done.
FULL-TIME: Morecambe 1 Rovers 5
ROVERS | Marosi, Blair, Evina, Butler, Wright, Middleton (Calder), Houghton, Rowe, Coppinger (Beestin), Marquis, Williams (Mandeville). ROVERS SUBS | Etheridge, Garratt, Fielding, Longbottom. BOOKED | Marquis
MORECAMBE XI | Roche, Wakefield (Jennings), Kenyon, Edwards, Barkhuizen, Ellison, Conlan (Molyneux), Whitmore, Rose, Dunn (Massanka), Stockton. MORECAMBE SUBS | Nizic, McGowan, Mullin, Fleming. BOOKED | Kenyon, Barkhuizen, Stockton
SENT OFF | Whitmore