Doncaster Rovers 2 - 3 Walsall

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Tuesday Oct 02 2007 07:45

Battling Walsall came from behind twice to clinch their third away win in a row in spectacular fashion.

Richard Money's men fully deserved their victory although they enjoyed a stroke of luck when Doncaster Rovers missed a penalty in the last minute.

Substitute Rhys Weston needlessly flattened home skipper Adam Lockwood, but James Coppinger stepped up and hit a feeble spot-kick wide of the mark.

To add to their misery Rovers had striker Lewis Guy sent off in injury time for something he said to the referee.

It was a different story at the start when Rovers began in confident style and Walsall survived a couple of valid penalty appeals for handball in the first 12 minutes.

Doncaster dominated with some slick passing football and went ahead in the 17th minute when defender Matthew Mills headed home in terrific style following a corner, for his second goal in four days.

But the home side's joy lasted only 11 minutes before Walsall hit back with a free-kick from Daniel Fox, which took a wicked deflection and rocketed into the net completely wrong-footing home keeper Neil Sullivan.

Rovers restored their advantage five minutes before the interval when Guy latched on to a splendid pass from Brian Stock and chested the ball down, before lashing it into the net from close range.

But a shocking second-half display from the home side and a splendid performance from the visitors turned the tables in dramatic fashion.Mark Bradley stole in behind the defence to score from close range following a 66th minute free-kick and a moment of madness by Rovers keeper Sullivan gifted Walsall the points five minutes later.

Although in possession of the ball himself Sullivan stuck out a foot at Ishmel Demontagnac and Tommy Mooney rattled home the resulting penalty in confident style.

Coppinger's weak spot-kick followed and Guy's sending-off completed a miserable night for the home team.

  • 90
    The ref has blown his whistle for full time.
  • 90
    It's red. He's off. Lewis Guy has been sent off.
  • 90
    Ishmel Demontagnac is being taken off, David McDermott has come on in his place.
  • 82
    The referee has booked James O'Connor.
  • 78
    Dwayne Mattis goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.
  • 78
    The referee has booked Edrissa Sonko.
  • 75
    James Hayter is being taken off, Jason Price has come on in his place.
  • 73
    Walsall are replacing Darren Wrack with Rhys Weston.
  • 71
    Tommy Mooney takes a penalty for Walsall and scores!.
  • 70
    The referee has booked Neil Sullivan.
  • 66
    Goal!! Mark Bradley scores for Walsall.
  • 63
    Doncaster are replacing Brian Stock with Paul Green.
  • 46
    The second half is under way with the score currently at 2 v 1.
  • 46
    Paul Heffernan is replaced by James Coppinger.
  • 45
    The ref has blown his whistle for half time.
  • 40
    Goal!! Lewis Guy scores for Doncaster.
  • 28
    Goal!! Walsall have scored with Daniel Fox putting it in the back of the net.
  • 26
    Mark Wilson is booked for unsporting behaviour.
  • 24
    The referee has booked Ishmel Demontagnac.
  • 24
    Dwayne Mattis is booked for unsporting behaviour.
  • 17
    Goal!! Matthew Mills scores for Doncaster.
  • 6
    Tommy Mooney goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.
  • 5
    The referee has booked Daniel Fox.
  • 0
    The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Statistics

Doncaster Rovers
Shots on target 3
Shots off target 3
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 14
Offsides 3
Corners 6

Walsall
Shots on target 8
Shots off target 5
Shots off bar/post 1
Fouls 20
Offsides 1
Corners 7

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