Doncaster Rovers 2 Crewe Alexandra 0

Last updated : 16 September 2007 By Footymad Previewer
A goal in each half earned Doncaster Rovers a comfortable first home league win of the season and lifted them out of the bottom four.

Manager Sean O'Driscoll had been under pressure following their poor start to the season, but it was difficult to understand why they have struggled to make an impact as they dominated this game from start to finish.

A win for Crewe would have put them into the top three but it was all too easy for Doncaster as they gave them the runaround and rarely allowed them a kick.

Doncaster placed the emphasis on possession and passed the ball around impressively with Brian Stock and Richie Wellens running the show in midfield.

Wellens set the pattern when he created a shooting chance for Stock in the second minute and the midfielder had visiting keeper Ben Williams at full-stretch to save his thumping 20-yard shot.

Mark Wilson fired just over the top from 20 yards six minutes later, before Lewis Guy hit the post in the 12th minute as Crewe came under heavy pressure.

Paul Heffernan flicked a shot just wide of the mark in the 17th minute and attacks from the visitors were few and far between as Rovers dictated the pace.

It was not until the 22nd minute that Crewe produced a serious threat but on-loan striker Lee Barnard was unable to capitalise following good work by Ryan Lowe.

Steve Schumacher hit a 20-yard shot wide of the mark before home keeper Neil Sullivan did well to save from Lowe in the 27th minute.

Doncaster regained control and deservedly went ahead in the 31st minute when Heffernan chased a ball over the top from Wellens and edged past Williams before sliding a low shot into the net.

Heffernan went close again just before the interval and Crewe seemed to surrender without much of a fight when Doncaster scored again three minutes into the second half.

It was a real sickener for the visitors with full-back Danny Woodards having the misfortune of bundling the ball into his own net in his attempt to clear a right-wing cross from Guy.

Rovers would have won by more but at the finish three points was all that mattered.