Doncaster Rovers 2 - 0 Coventry City

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Doncaster Rovers 2 - 0 Coventry City

Postby dutchman » Sun May 05, 2019 12:29 am

Goals in either half condemn Sky Blues to defeat

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Coventry City signed off their 2018/19 League One campaign with a defeat at a Doncaster Rovers side fire up with play-off fever.

The home side took a first half lead from the head of Kieran Sadlier after the Sky Blues had dominated the first 20-odd minutes at the Keepmoat Stadium but had nothing to show for it.

Coventry’s first shot on target didn’t come until early in the second half as clear cut chances were at a minimum on a disappointing afternoon at the sharp end.

And despite re-asserting their dominance in terms of possession, John Marquis secured Rovers’ place in the play-offs five minutes from time when he headed home after Lee Burge had saved his initial effort, sparking a pitch invasion as the home fans celebrated.

But there were ugly scenes on the final whistle when both sets of fans entered the field and had to be separated by police and stewards after a couple of fights broke out.

Mark Robins’s men dominated the early proceedings but two attempts on goal and neither on target made for miserable reading as they trailed at the break.

City knocked the ball about confidently and were playing by far the better football until news filtered through that Peterborough United had taken the lead against Burton Albion, piling all the pressure on Rovers to win to secure their place in the play-offs.

Lee Burge pulled off a terrific save to deny striker John Marquis on 27 minutes as Donny appeared to up their game.

And minutes later in the 31st they took the lead when three Coventry players were arguably at fault, first Brandon Mason given the slip by Mallik Wilks who sent in a deep cross to the back post where Burge mis-judged the flight of the ball and Jordan Willis failed to get close enough to Sadlier who headed all too easily into the back of the net.

Amadou Bakayoko put the ball in the back of the net but his effort was ruled out because the referee had already blown for a foul against Rovers in the build-up.

City were then dealt a blow on the stroke of half-time when star man Bright Enobakhare went to ground with a muscle strain and had to go off, replaced by Conor Chaplin.

Jordy Hiwula hit City’s first shot on target in the 54th minute, forcing keeper Marko Marosi into a decent save at his near post with what was the visitors’ first shot on target.

Robins then made another change, sending on midfielder Zain Westbrooke for Bakayoko as Hiwula went up front and Jordan Shipley moved out wide on the left in a bid to change things up and find an equaliser.

The change certainly seemed to have the desired effect as Coventry put themselves back in control of possession and forcing Rovers to play on the counter attack while desperately trying to protect their narrow lead.

But still the Sky Blues were unable to ask enough questions of the keeper. Jordan Ponticelli was thrown on as a last throw of the dice with 15 minutes to go, the home grown striker running himself ragged for the cause.

But with five minutes left on the clock, target man Marquis get on the end of a cross to force Burge into a save. However, the keeper was unable to retain the ball and it bobbled up to allow the striker to nod home over the line to secure Donny sixth place spot.

Manager Grant McCann raced up the touchline in celebration and the home fans spilled onto the pitch to mob their team before returning to their seats and allowing the game to play out until the end.

The final whistle went and thousands of Donny fans raced onto the pitch before a large number of City fans also entered the field and there were a couple of fights before police with batons and an army of stewards managed to keep the two factions apart.

Attendance: 12,794 (2,292 City)

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Re: Doncaster Rovers 2 - 0 Coventry City

Postby dutchman » Sun May 05, 2019 12:30 am

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