Doncaster
|
23 |
Price
**
|
On The Bench
Sheff Utd
|
|
15 |
Halford
*** |
|
|
28 |
Quinn S
|
On The Bench
Sean O'Driscoll's men had made a solid start to their maiden season in the second tier, but have lost their way dramatically of late and this reverse at the Keepmoat Stadium means they now sit inside the relegation places.
A goal in each half - an own goal from Gareth Roberts in the first and Stephen Quinn's sweet strike in the second - proved the difference between two sides with contrasting ambitions this campaign.
While Doncaster will be happy to survive, their South Yorkshire rivals are aiming somewhat higher and this second win in a row pushes Kevin Blackwell's side into the heart of the play-off picture.
United were fortunate to lead at the break after Doncaster wasted several good chances, but they assumed total control after the break and ended up worthy victors.
With Brian Howard's protracted move from Barnsley stalling following the Tykes' refusal to accept United's bid for their captain, Blackwell named the same side that beat Watford on Saturday and they were rewarded for their composed start with the opening goal.
James Beattie had already worked Neil Sullivan with a low drive by the time the goal came in the 14th minute.
Rovers were caught short as Danny Webber slipped in behind their defence and with Beattie and Billy Sharp waiting in the box, Roberts was hurried into bundling the ball beyond Sullivan for the dubious honour of opening the scoring.
It was the second own goal scored by a Doncaster player in as many games after Matt Mills netted in similar circumstances in Saturday's loss to Southampton.
From there on though, Doncaster bossed the rest of the half and should have at least been level by the break.
Darren Byfield was the first culprit, prodding wide from a yard when it would have been easier to score after Paddy Kenny had parried Mills' header.
Brian Stock then crashed an effort against the bar after a mazy run, while Jason Price should also have scored but shot tamely at Kenny after shaking off the last covering defender.
The chances continued to present themselves to the home side, as Martin Woods dragged wide from a good position, although Beattie should have done better with a close-range header just before the break.
The former Southampton man faired better as a provider 15 minutes into the second period, though, laying on the second goal of the game for Quinn.
Neither side had done much to alter the pattern of the game in the interim, but United's extra class shone through when Beattie rolled the ball into the path of Quinn - easily United's best player - who calmly slotted past Sullivan.
Doncaster appeared to have run out of ideas and soon resorted to long-range efforts from Woods and Richie Wellens, as Quinn's industry and energy prevented them from getting their passing game going.
They have now failed to score in six of their 10 games this season and have only netted four times in total, and the way in which they failed to work Kenny in the closing stages must surely be of huge concern to O'Driscoll.
The closest they came was another embarrassing close-range miss from Byfield, while United cantered home despite losing Greg Halford to a nasty-looking injury.
