Doncaster Rovers 1 - 2 Bournemouth

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Saturday Aug 25 2007 03:00

Sean O'Driscoll's strongly fancied Doncaster Rovers side were cut down to size by his old club, Bournemouth.

O'Driscoll spent good money in the summer assembling a squad that many pundits were tipping for promotion.

But they were out-played and out-fought by the little fancied Cherries, where O'Driscoll spent over 20 years as a player, coach and manager.

The visitors had to come from behind after Doncaster had made a bright start and snatched the lead through defender Gordon Greer in the 24th minute.

Greer headed home at the near post with visiting keeper Asmir Begovic left grasping thin air as he tried to challenge him for the ball but was brushed aside.

At that stage it only seemed a matter of how many for Doncaster who had looked well in control.

But they were found badly lacking when Bournemouth hit back strongly to turn the tables.

Visiting striker Jo Kuffour was a constant source of menace and he just did enough to put home keeper Neil Sullivan off with an attempted header allowing Mark-Alain Gradel's cross to drift into the net in the 29th minute.

Bournemouth grew in confidence after that and Kuffour fired them in front just 16 seconds into the second half, when he waltzed past Greer and James O'Connor to slot the ball home from close range.

It could have been worse for Doncaster, but Sullivan did well to save a shot from Darren Anderton at full stretch a couple of minutes later.

Doncaster's attempts to hit back were feeble and they did not seriously test Begovic at all in the second half.

  • 90
    That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.
  • 90
    Bournemouth are replacing Jo Kuffour with Neil Young.
  • 83
    Gareth Roberts is replaced by Matthew Mills.
  • 77
    Mark-Alain Gradel is being taken off, Brett Pitman has come on in his place.
  • 76
    The referee has booked Shaun Cooper.
  • 72
    Gareth O'Connor is being taken off, Shaun Cooper has come on in his place.
  • 66
    Doncaster are replacing Mark Wilson with Mark McCammon.
  • 63
    Doncaster are replacing James Coppinger with Lewis Guy.
  • 46
    Goal!! Jo Kuffour scores for Bournemouth.
  • 46
    The second half is under way with the score currently at 1 v 1.
  • 45
    The ref has blown his whistle for half time.
  • 28
    Goal!! Bournemouth have scored with Mark-Alain Gradel putting it in the back of the net.
  • 24
    Goal!! Gordon Greer scores for Doncaster.
  • 18
    Ryan Garry goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.
  • 3
    Mark-Alain Gradel is booked for unsporting behaviour.
  • 0
    It's 3pm on Saturday, August 25th, the match has kicked off.

Statistics

Doncaster Rovers
Shots on target 5
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 9
Offsides 5
Corners 9

Bournemouth
Shots on target 4
Shots off target 2
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 12
Offsides 1
Corners 8

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