Doncaster 1 City 1

The players and 1782 travelling fans will have mixed feelings about a point from this away game on a difficult pitch. We’ve only won after going behind once this season, oddly enough coming in the reverse fixture at Carrow Road, when Leroy Lita scored in injury time. There was to be no such finish despite chances at both ends to win the match. In truth though, a draw was a fair result.

City had the best of the opening play and after 13 minutes Jon Otsemebor marauded forward without facing a challenge until the edge of the Doncaster box where the ball broke to Jamie Cureton who found Darel Russell but he couldn’t get a shot away. Wes Hoolahan was looking full of running but was struggling to control the ball on the threadbare, bobbly pitch and some of the easier short passes were not finding their target.

Norwich were temporarily down to ten men after 15 minutes when the Ginger Pele was forced to leave the pitch following a nasty clash of heads which required stitches, whilst he was off the pitch Rusty dropped deeper and the boys worked hard for each other forcing Doncaster back when they had possession. Another City attack saw Croft beat his man and put the ball into Cureton who could only stab his effort wide.

After 20 minutes Hoolahan misplaced another pass but chased back and manged to tackle his man and clear the danger eventually. Minutes later Jonathon Grounds cleared off the line for a corner from a Doncaster attack when the linesman failed to flag for offside. The resulting corner was fisted away behind by Marshall. This time the flick on wasn’t dealt with and Paul Heffernan headed in from four yards to give Doncaster the lead after their first spell of pressure.

The goal brought a tactical change from Doncaster with their three front men tucking in and getting behind the ball along with the rest of the team as they tried to defend their lead and hit Norwich on the long ball counter attack. Lee Croft was still getting in behind his fullback, Chambers and our best play was coming from the right side.

Both teams were cancelling each other out with the pitch becoming crowded as Doncaster kept everyone behind the ball. It was going to take a mistake or set piece to get back into the game and on 35 minutes Wes Hoolahan nearly delivered. Not with a 35 yard thunderbolt as he did on Tuesday night, but from a direct free kick just outside the area. With Sullivan still lining up his wall, Hoolahan asked referee Oliver if he could take it quickly and flashed his shot just to the outside of the upright with Sullivan well and truly beaten.

Grounds then had a mad two minute spell, firing a back pass that nearly beat Marshall for a corner, and then miscontrolled the ball giving away a throw in. This undue pressure led to Doncaster attacking 3 v 3 and Mark Fotheringham decided to go in late and have some afters from the unknown Donny player both players squared up to each other. The referee calmed things down and both players escaped a card, Doncasters’ fans weren’t pleased, obviously they like to see their own players booked, but it was good refereeing again from Michael Oliver.

Another City attack down the right saw Croft’s cross cleared behind for a corner. Clingan put the ball in which Grounds flicked on for Otsemobor but Doncaster cleared and hit Norwich on the break until Hoolahan again tracked back and broke up their play before being fouled.

There was still no threat in the final third from City and Carl Cort started a pretty long warm up. Which was just as well as Darel Russell went down and the doctor was straight onto the pitch. After lengthy treatment he left the pitch under his own steam, some of which was directed at the referee. Rusty didn’t seem to look too clever on his feet and was substituted for Cort.

Half time Doncaster 1 City 0

Cureton had the chance to restore parity almost from the kick off, taking a lovely ball from Hoolahan inside the area but Sullivan had come off his line and closed down the opportunity which Cureton couldn’t get either side of him.

Doncaster were pushing up more which helped open the game up as a contest. Brian Stock was pulling the strings in midfield for them. Otsemobor again made a good forward run beating two men and finding Hoolahan whose cross was cleared. We were enjoying good approach play but lacking a final product as no one could pick out Cort.

Stock put a good cross in for Doncaster which Marshall palmed away. O’Driscoll decided to change his front line with half an hour remaining and brought on Taylor for Spicer.

A long ball was won by Doherty onto Croft who crossed for Grounds to give himself an early 21st birthday present and head in from 4 yards for his first ever senior goal. City were level and deservedly so on balance of play.

Doncaster still came forward in search of a second goal and Heffernan’s cross was put out for a corner, which was taken short but the City defence pushed out and caught Donny offside.

On 65 Gunny made his second change and replaced Hoolahan with Matty Pattison. Hoolahan wasn’t pleased and went straight to the bench but Gunny made him go and shake hands with Matty. Pattison nearly made an instant impact as he put Croft through with City 2 on 2 but Cort was flagged offside and the goal was disallowed.

Doncaster made some good running and put a couple of good balls into the box the first Heffernan was unable to control and second he flicked on but there was no one up in support.

Cort was holding the ball up well and on 70 fed Croft on the edge of the area who passed short inside to Cureton, he chipped a lovely ball into the onrushing Otsemobor who blazed his volley over the bar. It was a lovely move and one which deserved a goal. Semi probably could have taken a touch or passed it into the net instead of going for power.

At the other end O’Connor laid off for Wellens to hit a drive which was blocked and Croft cleared. Coppinger then had a shot which was saved for a corner and Wellens’ shot was cleared off the line with the fans appealing for a handball from Grounds, which wasn’t given and the Donny players weren’t appealing, instead Stock shot which was saved by Marshall.

Stock over hit a free kick into the area which City gave up on but Matt Mills hadn’t and his shot went well over. City were absorbing the pressure but would they break?

With the pressure telling Fozzy went into the refs book for persistent fouling this one 20 yards out on the left. However Wellens shot went straight into the wall.

Taylor then went close for the hosts at the near post after a cross from Coppinger. They were certainly turning the screw but quite a few of the Doncaster fans were heading for the exits!

Still doncaster pressed and Coppinger had a shot off target but it went for a corner. That was cleared but fell to Wellens whose shot was wide.

Lupoli replaced Cureton for the final 10 minutes. Semi came forward again and blasted a 40 yard effort into the fans. From the resulting goal kick Sullivan miscued and Lupoli took control of the ball but was closed out with Cort being fouled but the referee failed to award a free kick.

Final score Doncaster 1 City 1

Category: Match Report

Tags: Doncaster, Norwich City

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