2 weeks Ago
CITY’S proud home run is over after Doncaster grabbed the derby-day honours. T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at Valley Parade yesterday and provides the match stats and his player ratings. MAN OF THE MATCH They were two sloppy goals to concede but Jack Shepherd was not at fault for either.
The Barnsley centre half was as solid as usual at the back – but the fifth yellow card rules him out of Fleetwood away. MOMENT OF THE MATCH Andy Cook’s header from Lewis Richards’ cross threw an unexpected lifeline City’s way and set up a grandstand finish. If only they’d had a bit longer.
MOAN OF THE MATCH Doncaster’s first goal was a defensive car crash for City. Letting the long clearance bounce was fatal and nobody then got close to either blue shirt as they burst into the box. TACTICS There were changes at both wing-back positions as Tyreik Wright and Jay Benn were both able to return.
Lewis Richards and Brad Halliday dropped to the bench. Graham Alexander also handed Tyler Smith his first start of the season to partner Andy Cook up front. Calum Kavanagh, still looking to get off the mark, was among the substitutes.
REFEREE: Ruebyn Ricardo (Leicestershire) BOOKINGS: Shepherd, Diabate (City); Sharp, Hurst, Maxwell, Broadbent, Bailey (Doncaster) ATTENDANCE: 18,267 SHOTS ON TARGET: City 4 Doncaster 6 SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 4 Doncaster 5 CORNERS: City 6 Doncaster 13 FOULS: City 10 Doncaster 11 POSSESSION %: City 60 Doncaster 40 PLAYER RATINGS CITY: S Walker 6, Diabate 6 (Halliday 73min), Byrne 6, Shepherd 7, Benn 6 (Evans 74min), Smallwood 6, Wright 5 (Richards 73min), Pointon 5, J Walker 5 (Oliver 73min), Smith 5 (Kavanagh 73min), Cook 6. Subs (not used): Huntington, Doyle. DONCASTER: Sharman-Lowe 6, Olowu 7, McGrath 8, Senior 7 (Clifton 81min), Sterry 7, Bailey 7, Broadbent 6, Maxwell 6 (Fleming 81min), Hurst 9 (Kelly 90min), Sharp 7 (Ironside 90min), Molyneux 8.
Subs (not used): Gibson, Close, Lawlor..
