Mark Duffy’s free kick took Doncaster Rovers clear of immediate danger in The Chammpionship, consigning Yeovil Town to the bottom. Dean Furman scored for the hosts at the Keepmoat Stadium before later being sent off after Byron Webster levelled.
Team News
Rovers boss Paul Dickov made two changes from the goalless draw at South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley. Paul Keegan and Chris Brown made way for David Cotterill and Richie Wellens.
Glovers gaffer Gary Johnson meanwhile had to replace departed loan keeper Wayne Hennessey with Chris Dunn in one of four changes from the home defeat by Wigan Athletic. Kevin Dawson, Kevin Foley and Paddy Madden were also replaced by Ed Upson, Sam Hoskins and Fraser Fyvie.
Match Report
Doncaster made the most of a good start by taking the lead on ten minutes. South Africa midfielder Furman added to his international exploits by finishing a fine team move. Yeovil gave the ball away in midfield, Mark Duffy drove forward and slipped in Macheda.
The Manchester United loanee selflessly squared to Furman for a tap in just inside the six-yard box. Johnson’s Glovers improved with Fyvie – borrowed from previous opponents Wigan – testing Ross Turnbull in the home goal with a free kick before being subbed for tactical reasons.
Yeovil also lost skipper Jamie McAllister to injury before the break, but they did level from a set piece. Shane Duffy – yet another loan player – nodded down a long, punted free kick for centre back partner Webster to sweep home and score against his former club.
Town keeper Dunn saved low efforts from Paul Quinn and Cotterill with a free kick in the second half. It was then the turn of Turnbull to make low stops of Glovers sub Liam Davis and Hoskins when he cut inside.
Dunn then fell on Wellens’s scuffed effort as Rovers kept a move alive thanks to James Coppinger off the bench. Mark Duffy then worked Yeovil’s goalie after more good work by Macheda. The hosts were reduced to ten men ten minutes before the end as scorer Furman saw red for a second booking.
South African Furman lunged in on Upson, leaving referee Stuart Attwell with little option. Duffy would go one better, however, and fired a surprise free kick over the wall and inside Dunn’s far post to put Doncaster back in front.
James Hayter, a former Rovers favourite, saw a flicked header saved dramatically by Turnbull late on. Young Joe Ralls then spooned over from close range in stoppage time, so Town made a four-hour trip back to Somerset with nothing.
Dickov now has a five-point cushion on the bottom three. Johnson’s side meanwhile are as far away from safety and that’s ahead of the rest of the weekend fixtures.
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Match Stats
- Doncaster: 1 Ross Turnbull, 2 Paul Quinn, 14 Bongani Khumalo, 12 Luke McCullough, 32 Reece Wabara, 11 David Cotterill (26 James Coppinger 65’), 4 Dean Furman, 19 Richie Wellens (c), 7 Mark Duffy, 10 Federico Macheda (21 Marc De Val 87’), 22 Theo Robinson (8 Billy Paynter 68’) 4-4-2
- Goals: Dean Furman 11’, Mark Duffy 82’
- Yeovil: 24 Chris Dunn, 2 Luke Ayling, 5 Byron Webster, 15 Shane Duffy, 3 Jamie McAllister (c) (21 Liam Davis 39’), 4 Joe Edwards, 11 Fraser Fyvie (7 Kevin Dawson 30’), 8 Ed Upson, 19 Joe Ralls, 14 Sam Hoskins (9 James Hayter 74’), 23 Joel Grant 4-4-2
- Goals: Byron Webster 43’