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Club News

Rovers 1 Charlton 1

10 February 2018

Club News

Rovers 1 Charlton 1

10 February 2018

Stoppage-time drama at the Keepmoat Stadium saw Rovers steal a point at the death, as Matty Blair’s 94th minute header earned the hosts a 1-1 draw against Charlton Athletic in Sky Bet League One.

Blair’s late header cancelled out Patrick Bauer’s first-half header for the Addicks, who were in control for much of the game.

The game started fairly slowly as both sides looked to gain a foothold in the match, but after no real chances of note for either side, it was the visitors who took the lead as the game approached 20 minutes.

Tariqe Fosu’s break down the left saw him pull the ball back on the touchline, only to be cut out by the retreating Jordan Houghton, with the ball being sent behind for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece, Bauer rose highest to meet Jake Forster-Caskey’s corner at the back post to head the Addicks in front.

The visitors looked like they would prove to be a real threat from set-pieces as Josh Magennis was next to go close.

The Northern Irish international had the beating of Tom Anderson in the air, but he could only head over from yet another Forster-Caskey corner from the right.

Rovers did come into the game as the half progressed, with good work down the right by John Marquis to evade Jay Dasilva almost creating a way back into the game for the hosts.

He shrugged off a strong challenge from the left-back and crossed for Alfie Beestin, but just as the youngster looked to shoot, Ezri Konsa took the ball off his feet to deny Rovers an equaliser.

Charlton soon regained control though, and they went very close to extending their lead deep into first-half injury time.

Fosu’s break down the left saw him pull the ball back for Ben Reeves, who in turn laid the ball off for Magennis.

His shot was blocked by Andy Boyle, but the ball was only cleared as far as Mark Marshall, who’s effort was saved by Ian Lawlor, to keep Rovers in the game as the two sides headed in to the break.

After the interval, it was the visitors who again came out firing.


First Fosu weaved his way into a shooting position inside the Rovers’ box, but Lawlor got across well to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Lawlor was being kept busy by the Addicks and had to get down once again to deny them a second.

A free-kick was swung into the area and the ball was knocked down by the towering Magennis into the path of Reeves.

He struck firmly, but the Irishman in the Rovers’ goal got down superbly to deny the visitors a second.

Fosu was causing all sorts of problems for Rovers, and if it hadn’t been for some superb defending by loan-man Anderson, the Addicks would’ve been two up.

Blair’s back-pass to Lawlor was under-hit and Fosu intercepted, and he ran through one-on-one with Lawlor, rounding the Rovers’ keeper and simply having an open goal to shoot at.

Anderson got back superbly however, sliding in to block Fosu’s shot and keep Rovers in it as the game reached its final 10 minutes.

But with the game looking like it was heading for defeat for Rovers, late drama ensured that Rovers would snatch a point at the death.

Pressure from the home side saw Coppinger put a ball into the area which was cleared away by the Addicks defence, but only into the path of Luke McCullough.

His shot was blocked but looped up over everyone but Blair, who went unmarked at the back post to head past Ben Amos and earn Rovers a point.


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