Doncaster Rovers 2 Sheffield United 0: Injury ruins Sharp's celebration

Striker Billy Sharp is likely to be out for more than a month if scans today confirm a torn hamstring and the loss of the 1.1m striker will leave a major hole to be filled in Rovers' attack.

O'Driscoll describes Sharp as no more than a 'Fat Lad from Sheffield' when he allows frustration to have an adverse affect on his game.

But Sharp delivered the perfect reposte to his manager's comments with a goal against former club Sheffield United on Saturday before injury struck.

Rovers, who had already been ahead thanks to a goal from James Coppinger, held on for a 2-0 victory and are now only two points away from the play-off zone.

Yet without Sharp's goal threat, O'Driscoll knows the task of challenging for a top-six place becomes even harder.

"This division is difficult for small clubs but on our day we can match anybody," he said. "We need to keep everybody fit but when your top goalscorer is going to be out for a few weeks it makes the job even more difficult."

Sharp had lined up against the Blades for the first time since quitting Bramall Lane this summer and rather than celebrate his goal, pulled up the back of his shirt to reveal the phrase 'Fat Lad from Sheffield'.

"I want to score and go mad every week but I wanted to show my respect for Sheffield United because, when I was there, the fans were absolutely fantastic with me," said the former Scunthorpe United striker.

"The gaffer had a bit of banter with me in midweek and says he doesn't like me as a player when I get frustrated. When I do he says I am just a 'fat lad from Sheffield'.

"He simply wants me to be on the top of my game and not get frustrated," Sharp added. "So it was just a little bit of fun between us."

O'Driscoll had made four changes to his starting line-up with centre-backs Sam Hird and Byron Webster and striker Dean Shiels dropping to the bench. Midfielder Simon Gillett was ruled out by a knee injury.

Fit again centre-backs Shelton Martis and James O'Connor returned along with midfielder Martin Woods and striker James Hayter.

Blades manager Gary Speed had recalled on-loan Manchester United full-back Ritchie de Laet as a replacement for the injured Stephen Jordan.

Serving a one-game touchline ban, Speed watched on from a seat in the pressbox as his side struggled to exert any sort of authority on the game.

Rovers dominated the first half but shots from Martin Woods and John Oster flew wide and Steve Simonsen saved low to deny James Coppinger.

Speed employed Daniel Bogdanovic as a lone striker but the Maltese international rarely saw the ball.

Sharp, meanwhile, was initally kept on a tight leash with only a speculative header wide to show for his efforts with half an hour gone.

But the striker seized the spotlight between then and the half-time whistle.

He set up the goal that broke the deadlock, scored the second, and then limped off with a hamstring injury.

Coppinger scored his fourth goal of the season after linking up with Sharp on the edge of the box.

The pair played a neat one-two following a poor header by Blades defender Nyron Nosworthy and Coppinger tucked the ball inside Simonsen's far post.

Sharp doubled the lead with a close-range strike after Hayter's shot had been pushed into his path by Simonsen.

Sadly for Sharp, his evening was about to be curtailed. He pulled up during a sprint for the ball and the look on his face told its own story.

Supporters from both clubs stood to applaud the 24-year-old as he made his way off the field.

The Blades improved after the break and substitute Jamie Ward nearly pulled a goal back when he dinked the ball over goalkeeper Neil Sullivan only for it to roll the wrong side of the far post.

With Matt Lowton on for Johnny Ertl in midfield, the Blades began to secure a foothold in the contest and push Rovers back. Inevitably, they were also susceptible to the counter-attack and an impressive surge up the field by Rovers full-back Mustapha Dumbuya nearly led to another goal.

Dumbuya accelerated away from Leon Britton and played a good ball to Hayter whose knock back was fired over by captain Brian Stock.

Home fans expressed clear distain for Blades captain Chris Morgan who had left Rovers striker Hayter with a cut mouth in the first half with a loose elbow.

Cresswell headed wide as the Blades toiled in vain to find a way back.

Rovers also spurned a golden opportunity to wrap things up completely when Hayter missed the target from just five yards out. In the final minutes, referee Keith Hill ignored claims for a Blades penalty when Ward was bundled over by Joseph Mills. Speed was furious about it after the game but, ultimately, it would have been too little too late.

O'Driscoll said: "We need to play with a lot of guile and a lot of intelligence."

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