A cold but fine night at the Keepmoat Stadium presented itself for another battle of two of the top six clubs. Following the Rovers win at Elland Road last weekend they welcome the leaders, Swansea City, who have a healthy eight points lead in League 1. The Welsh club have recovered from their shock defeat in the F.A.Cup 3rd Round replay at non-league Havant & Waterlooville by collecting six points in their two League games since then. The Rovers made just one change tonight, Martin Woods coming in for Brian Stock, out with a virus infection. After beating Leeds United on their own midden, the Rovers fans will, quite rightly, be expecting another three points from a top team in the Division. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.
Swansea, looking resplendent in green and black striped shirts with white shorts and white socks, started the game and attacked the Rovers defence with the result being a goal kick to the Rovers. The Rovers responded with an assault of their own which eventually broke down. In the 8th minute a great cross from the right by Coppinger had the Swansea keeper, de Vries struggling through a crowd of players to punch away for a corner to the Rovers. When this came in de Vries made an easy catch. Three minutes later and Bauza, for the Swans, received the ball halfway into the Rovers half and went on a mazy dribble past several Rovers defenders before shooting wide from just outside the penalty area. Minutes later and the Rovers were awarded a free kick about 25 yards out. to the right of goal. Woods put it to the far post where McCammon headed wide. The match had now settled down to an even contest, with both sides playing some neat football.On 20 minutes, some good ball control by Woods to bring the ball down, a turn and a crack from 25 yards which de Vries needed two attempts to gather it. Sullivan then collected a loose ball at the other end following a cross from Anderson on the right. This was followed by Bauza firing high over the bar from another cross by Anderson. With 23 minutes played, the Rovers won a corner on their left which Price headed over. Two minutes later and a graet run down the Rovers right by O'Connor from halfway in his own half was only ended by the visiting defence at the expense of a corner. Woods took the kick and after a 1-2 with Green put a curling left foot croos into the middle which was dealt with by de Vries with a flying punch away. Then, on 28 minutes, the visitors were awarded a free kick inches outside the 18 yards line. BODDE stepped up and drove a low shot past the wall and Sullivan into the bottom corner of the net for the opening goal. The Rovers replied with a 'goal' a minute later but Price, who helped on a header from Green was penalised for offside. Both sides took their turn at attacking the opposition goalas time ran down to the break. A free kick by Coppinger from 25 yards hit the netting at the back having cleared the bar by inches. Later, Desperate defending by the Rovers to stop Bauza gave the Swans a corner, which was cleared. In the last three minutes of the half Woods had two attempts at goal. The first was a left foot free kick on the right which was just wide and the second one was a 30 yards effort which cleared the bar by about a foot. The break came with the Swans going in holding a one goal lead after a good 45 minutes of football.
The Rovers brought on Matt Mills for Adam Lockwood at the start of the second half, Lockwood having taken a couple of knocks in the first half. The Rovers made a bright start and two minutes in a good move by Coppinger to Wellens and through for Price, whose first touch was too heavy. The keeper came out to clear but Price tackled him and won a corner. Somehow the Swansea players deemed this unfair and a general altercation occurred. When everyone had had their say the referee deemed it not necessary to book anybody, The keeper, after treatment by the phsio, was fit enough to catch the ball when the corner came in. Then, on 52 minutes, the Rovers defence were carved open as Scotland got to the right byline and crossed low to an unmarked BAUZA, who had a simple tap-in to put the Swans two goals up. On 58 minutes came further ill fortune for the Rovers when Steve Roberts was adjudged to have brought down Bauza as he went clear on goal. He was sent for an early bath and Swansea had a free kick , an exact replica of the first goal except this time Bodde put wide. On the hour Wellens, for the Rovers had a cracking effort from 18 nyards deflected wide for a corner, which came to nothing. Down to ten men, the Rovers were always going to struggle against a side the calibre of Swansea. They ried hard and a good move on 83 minutes involving Coppinger and Wellens put Guy in but the keeper got there to put the ball out for a corner. Two minutes later and the Rovers were three down when Mills was adjudged to have fouled Brandy in the penalty area. The penalty was converted by SCOTLAND. Minutes later and Wellens had his heels clipped in the Swansea penalty area which the referee had a good view of but waved away any claim for a penalty. If one was a penalty certainly the other was. The Swans kept up the attack for the remaining time and deep into the four minutes of added-on time Robinson beat Gareth Roberts at the right corner flag and passed low into the middle for BRANDY to stab in from close range and complete the rout.
Swansea certainly came to avenge their defeat from earlier in the season and were definitely the better team on the night although the second half was made easier for them when the Rovers went down to ten men. The Swans now go 11 points clear of the field.
Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Steve Roberts, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Richie Wellens, Martin Woods; Mark McCammon, Jason Price
Subs used - Matt Mills for Lockwood 46 mins; Lewis Guy, for Woods 65 mins; James Hayter for McCammon 71 mins;
Subs not used - Mark Wilson, Sean McDaid,
Cautions - McCammon,
Sent Off - Steve Roberts 58 mins
Swansea City - Dorus De Vries; Ferrie Bodde, Leon |Britton, Jason Scotland, Marcos Painter, Dennis Lawrwnce, Garry Monk, Angel Rangel, Guillem Bauza, Paul Anderson, Thomas Butler
Subs used - Joe Allen for Britton 62 mins;; Andy Robinson for Butler 75 mins; Fabian Brandy for Bauza 80 mins;
Subs not used - Kristian O'Leary, Alan Tate,
Toppings Pie Co. kindly provide catering on a match day to the Doncaster Rovers Media Department.
