Doncaster Rovers 1 Leeds United 3: Leeds still rule the roost over Rovers at Keepmoat
Yorkshire Post 28/8/13
by Leon Wobschall at Keepmoat Stadium
HOW Leeds United enjoy their away-day excursions to the Keepmoat Stadium.
Five visits to Rovers’s compact and bijou ground, four wins, a draw and an undefeated record with the big 3,770 away contingent who made the short trip able to reflect on another sweet occasion.
With the game delicately poised heading into the final 13 minutes, it was a man that home manager Paul Dickov knows plenty about in Matt Smith – who has credited the former Oldham boss and current Doncaster chief as having a major impact in his fledging career – who swung the tie inexorably in Leeds’s favour.
The big striker, impressive throughout, rose high, to head home an excellent Lee Peltier cross. A few minutes later, man-of-the-moment Ross McCormack – who else? – sealed the deal from the spot after Reece Wabara was penalised for a foul on Dominic Poleon.
It ensured a breeze at the end for Leeds, although it was very much game on at the mid-way point of the half after a face from the Whites past in Billy Paynter showed the predatory prowess that was somewhat missing for one reason or another during his barren chapter at Elland Road.
With virtually his first touch, the Scouse striker headed in David Cotterill’s cross at the far post on 63 minutes to cancel out Scott Wootton’s opener to leave Rovers fans scenting a long-awaited victory over United on home soil.
But, ultimately, things reverted to type and while Rovers were hopeful of landing a plum draw in the next round to bring in funds to boost their transfer kitty, it was Leeds’s night.
Despite a scare or two, it was ultimately an enriching evening for Brian McDermott, who saw his side extend their unbeaten run at the start of the current campaign to six games.
The fact that a couple of debutants provided key contributions – in the shape of opening goalscorer Wootton and provider Alex Mowatt – gave him the icing on the cake.
The latter was the surprise name in the United starting line-up, among six changes made by McDermott, with the 18-year-old Academy product handed a shock debut.
That Wootton started was no such secret and as introductions to United’s supporters go, last night represented the proverbial dream.
A brilliant early clearance in his day job as a defender – to prevent an early goal for Rovers – was impressive enough, but it was his contribution at the other end which ultimately proved more decisive.
The centre-half nodded home Smith’s inviting header across goal from close range via the underside of the bar following an initial searching cross from Mowatt four minutes before the break.
Rovers may have enjoyed arguably the greatest day in their history at Leeds’s expense at Wembley in 2008 when James Hayter wrote his name in club folklore.
But in Doncaster at least, the bragging rights have invariably belonged to United for over half a century – even if match-ups between the White Rose combatants have been relatively rare until recent times.
For the record, Leeds haven’t now been beaten in Doncaster since August 1951, with the West Yorkshiremen following up their second-round victory over the hosts in the League Cup two years ago with a repeat dose.
While it was Rovers who posted the initial menace, Leeds grew into proceedings after a quiet start – although they were afforded a massive early scare as the hosts went desperately close to an opener.
Only a terrific last-ditch clearance from Wootton close to the goalline saved the day after a crossshot from Richie Wellens flew towards goal.
McCormack then fired somewhat tamely over with Ross Turnbull stranded out of goal after weakly punching Adam Drury’s cross clear.
For the remainder of the half, the visitors enjoyed a relative degree of comfort, with a rare dangerous moment arriving just after the half-hour when a header from James Coppinger was grasped in the nick of time by goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.
With half-time approaching, Wootton had his moment to remember with United making the early running on the restart, with Poleon going close at the near post before Smith headed over after a good cross from Mowatt.
But it was a striker with former Leeds associations who had the decisive impact not long after with Paynter clinically heading in Cotterill’s centre, with the goal providing a serious shot in the arm for the rejuvenated hosts.
Ultimately though, it was left to Smith and then McCormack – with his fourth goal of the campaign – to break Rovers resistance.
by Leon Wobschall at Keepmoat Stadium
HOW Leeds United enjoy their away-day excursions to the Keepmoat Stadium.
Five visits to Rovers’s compact and bijou ground, four wins, a draw and an undefeated record with the big 3,770 away contingent who made the short trip able to reflect on another sweet occasion.
With the game delicately poised heading into the final 13 minutes, it was a man that home manager Paul Dickov knows plenty about in Matt Smith – who has credited the former Oldham boss and current Doncaster chief as having a major impact in his fledging career – who swung the tie inexorably in Leeds’s favour.
The big striker, impressive throughout, rose high, to head home an excellent Lee Peltier cross. A few minutes later, man-of-the-moment Ross McCormack – who else? – sealed the deal from the spot after Reece Wabara was penalised for a foul on Dominic Poleon.
It ensured a breeze at the end for Leeds, although it was very much game on at the mid-way point of the half after a face from the Whites past in Billy Paynter showed the predatory prowess that was somewhat missing for one reason or another during his barren chapter at Elland Road.
With virtually his first touch, the Scouse striker headed in David Cotterill’s cross at the far post on 63 minutes to cancel out Scott Wootton’s opener to leave Rovers fans scenting a long-awaited victory over United on home soil.
But, ultimately, things reverted to type and while Rovers were hopeful of landing a plum draw in the next round to bring in funds to boost their transfer kitty, it was Leeds’s night.
Despite a scare or two, it was ultimately an enriching evening for Brian McDermott, who saw his side extend their unbeaten run at the start of the current campaign to six games.
The fact that a couple of debutants provided key contributions – in the shape of opening goalscorer Wootton and provider Alex Mowatt – gave him the icing on the cake.
The latter was the surprise name in the United starting line-up, among six changes made by McDermott, with the 18-year-old Academy product handed a shock debut.
That Wootton started was no such secret and as introductions to United’s supporters go, last night represented the proverbial dream.
A brilliant early clearance in his day job as a defender – to prevent an early goal for Rovers – was impressive enough, but it was his contribution at the other end which ultimately proved more decisive.
The centre-half nodded home Smith’s inviting header across goal from close range via the underside of the bar following an initial searching cross from Mowatt four minutes before the break.
Rovers may have enjoyed arguably the greatest day in their history at Leeds’s expense at Wembley in 2008 when James Hayter wrote his name in club folklore.
But in Doncaster at least, the bragging rights have invariably belonged to United for over half a century – even if match-ups between the White Rose combatants have been relatively rare until recent times.
For the record, Leeds haven’t now been beaten in Doncaster since August 1951, with the West Yorkshiremen following up their second-round victory over the hosts in the League Cup two years ago with a repeat dose.
While it was Rovers who posted the initial menace, Leeds grew into proceedings after a quiet start – although they were afforded a massive early scare as the hosts went desperately close to an opener.
Only a terrific last-ditch clearance from Wootton close to the goalline saved the day after a crossshot from Richie Wellens flew towards goal.
McCormack then fired somewhat tamely over with Ross Turnbull stranded out of goal after weakly punching Adam Drury’s cross clear.
For the remainder of the half, the visitors enjoyed a relative degree of comfort, with a rare dangerous moment arriving just after the half-hour when a header from James Coppinger was grasped in the nick of time by goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.
With half-time approaching, Wootton had his moment to remember with United making the early running on the restart, with Poleon going close at the near post before Smith headed over after a good cross from Mowatt.
But it was a striker with former Leeds associations who had the decisive impact not long after with Paynter clinically heading in Cotterill’s centre, with the goal providing a serious shot in the arm for the rejuvenated hosts.
Ultimately though, it was left to Smith and then McCormack – with his fourth goal of the campaign – to break Rovers resistance.