Burton 3 Doncaster Rovers 3: Duffy denies old team Doncaster in thriller

Mark Duffy, a former Doncaster Rovers player, struck a 90th-minute leveller for Burton to deny Darren Ferguson’s side victory at the home of the League One leaders.
Nathan Tyson celebrates his penalty

(Picture: Andrew Roe)Nathan Tyson celebrates his penalty

(Picture: Andrew Roe)
Nathan Tyson celebrates his penalty (Picture: Andrew Roe)

Ferguson, who was squaring up against another famous footballing son in Nigel Clough, thought his side had edged a topsy-turvy game when Nathan Tyson crashed home a penalty seven minutes from time.

But Birmingham loanee Duffy popped up to level matters and leave Ferguson with mixed emotions.

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“I feel we were lucky to get one, never mind three with the way the game went,” said Ferguson.

“If you look at the context of the game over the 94 minutes then it’s a good point. But if you look at it that you’re ahead in the last few minutes, it’s two points dropped. I feel we didn’t deserve anything more than a point.”

On the effort of his team, Ferguson added: “Credit to my players again. They’ve got that battling quality about them and a never say die attitude and it’s a fantastic trait to have.

“I’m delighted with the character. We were miles away from the standards I expect and the players know that. You can carry two or three but we carried more than that.”

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Rovers led through Andy Williams – who also missed a penalty – before Burton turned the game on its head with a Calum Butcher double.

Paul Keegan’s free-kick levelled matters before the thrilling final ten minutes.

Burton Albion: McLaughlin, Edwards, Mousinho, Flanagan, McCrory, O’Connor, Duffy, Butcher (Akins 84), Naylor, El Khayati, Beavon. Unused substitutes: Cansdell-Sherriff, Reilly, Thiele, Binnom-Williams, Palmer, Matthews.

Doncaster Rovers: Stuckmann, Alcock, Butler, Taylor-Sinclair, Lund (Keegan 54), Middleton, Coppinger (Chaplow 90), Grant, Evina (McCullough 54), Williams, Tyson. Unused substitutes: Mandeville, Marosi, Whitehouse, Davies.

Referee: M Heywood (Cheshire).

Man of the match: Paul Keegan.