Derby County 1 Doncaster Rovers 0: O'Driscoll rues Rams defeat

Previous trips to Derby County had been profitable for O'Driscoll's stylish side; they stunned their hosts 1-0 on the opening day of the 2008-09 campaign following their promotion from League One and followed that up with a 2-0 victory shortly before last Christmas.

But there was to be no repeat this time for Rovers, although they could probably count themselves unlucky not to have come away having at least earned a replay back at Keepmoat Stadium.

That they did not was down to substitute McEveley's wonderful left-footed strike in the 88th minute, rifling home a shot from 25 yards into the top corner which left Rovers goalkeeper Neil Sullivan with no chance.

It was perhaps a touch unjust on a Rovers side who had created the better chances once the game opened up after the break, following what had been a dour first half which had left both goalkeepers virtually redundant.

O'Driscoll had kept faith with the side which had earned the fourth-round tie against the Rams by defeating a dogged Brentford side 1-0 on Tuesday night and, while disappointed with the result, the Rovers manager was quick to laud his players, particularly following their exertions on a heavy Griffin Park pitch.

"It was disappointing to lose to a goal at the death. I thought we were well worth a draw but that's football, you can't do anything about it," said O'Driscoll.

"It was a great strike by McEveley. I tell our players 'if you don't shoot, you don't score'. Sometimes they end up in the stand or hit the corner flag and sometimes they fly in, so you've got to give him some credit for taking responsibility.

"I couldn't see them scoring really, I thought we contained them really well. We had a really difficult game on Tuesday on a quagmire of a pitch and I thought we handled the situation really well. We were a little bit tired but we didn't use that as an excuse and adapted.

"I thought Tuesday night was a test of their attitude and they came through with flying colours. This was a test of their resolve and, regardless of the result, I thought they were first-class."

Both sides struggled to create clear chances early on as, too often, neat build-up play broke down on the fringes of the penalty areas.

The first save of note did not arrive until the 27th minute when on-loan Billy Sharp worked some space on the edge of the Rams' box to fire in a left-footed shot which was comfortably saved by home goalkeeper Stephen Bywater down to his left.

At the other end, Sullivan lacked employment apart from in the 44th minute when he had to be quick off his line to smother the ball at the feet of Stephen Pearson after a neat through ball from striker Steven Davies.

Whatever the managers said at the break seemed to work with both sides seemingly more focused on finding the breakthrough goal in the second half.

Sharp had proved a handful all match and, in the 53rd minute, managed to create enough space for a shot from the edge of the area which was blocked by Nicky Hunt. The ball broke to Wilson who shot from 20 yards, forcing Bywater to save low to his right.

Derby then began to find more space as the game opened up, breaking down the other end with Robbie Savage finding full-back Hunt charging down the right wing. He floated in a first-time cross onto the head of Davies who was inches over with a firm header from eight yards out.

On the hour, Sharp hit straight at Bywater after a neat turn eight yards from goal following good build-up play by James Chambers and John Oster. Two minutes later, a sliced clearance by Hunt let in Gareth Roberts whose fierce, low cross-shot from the left just eluded Sharp at the far post.

As the game opened up further, Oster's neat pass found Coppinger 10 yards out but, as he waited for the ball to drop, Jake Buxton made a vital tackle to deny him a shot on goal.

Derby had an excellent chance to break the deadlock in the 82nd minute but, after Pearson's cross saw the ball break kindly for Kris Commons on the edge of the six-yard box, substitute Sam Hird reacted quickly to block his shot before Pearson's follow-up effort was cleared off the line by Chambers.

It was Pearson who broke again down the left with two minutes remaining and when his shot was blocked by the excellent James O'Connor, the ball fell kindly to McEveley to strike the match-winning goal.

Derby County: Bywater; Hunt, Barker, Buxton, Moxey (McEveley 75); Green, Savage, Johnson, Pearson; Davies (Commons 65), Porter (Hulse 78). Unused substitutes: Deeney, Teale, Pringle, Anderson.

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan; Chambers, O'Connor, Shackell (Hird 55), Roberts; Oster, Stock, Wilson (Heffernan 90), Sheils (Guy 78); Coppinger, Sharp. Unused substitutes: Smith, Spicer, Hayter, Webster.

Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear)

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