Doncaster 0 Notts County 2: Life without Sharp promises to be a scary prospect for Rovers

His transfer to Leicester City could well prove a false economy as without Sharp’s goals Rovers’ task to avoid relegation from the Championship will prove even more difficult.

Rovers were asking £3m for Sharp, their record £1.15m signing from Sheffield United in July, 2010, but it is understood they will receive closer to the Foxes’ original £2m offer.

Although the clubs have agreed the deal, it is now up to 25-year-old Sharp, who has scored 10 goals this season, to discuss personal terms.

Rovers chief Dean Saunders looked visibly deflated by not only the prospect of losing his top scorer, who had scored six goals in the last seven games, but also with Rovers’ insipid performance against League One opposition which brought to an end a four-match unbeaten home run.

Captain Brian Stock also admitted: “We missed Billy today. I think he would have scored a couple today and that’s what you get when you pay nearly £2m for a player.

“I can understand why loads of teams are after his signature so he will be a massive miss if he does go. It may be imminent but we will, as a team, wish him all the best because he deserves his chance and he has scored goals for us and has been a great servant for the club.”

Of the Cup exit, Stock added: “We are definitely disappointed and although we had quite a few chances in the second half you have to give Notts County some credit.

“We wanted to be in the next round and we want to win every game but we are struggling in the league and maybe this defeat will give us more of a focus to try and remain in this division.

“The energy we showed against Barnsley wasn’t there today. We were beaten by a team who probably wanted it more than us.”

Although they created a series of chances after going two goals down – opportunities which Sharp would surely have converted – there were few plus points for Rovers.

What did provide some hope, however, was the return from lengthy injury off the bench of midfield duo John Oster and Martin Woods.

Both impressed, Oster, out since the end of October due to neck surgery, playing some incisive passes and Woods, recovered from groin trouble, adding an attacking edge.

Oster was a 59th-minute replacement for new striker Mamadou Bagayoko, who had finally received international clearance after joining on a five-month contract from Greek club Giannina.

Bagayoko looked rusty to say the least and is a target man rather than a goal poacher in the Sharp mould.

James Hayter was Rovers’ other striker and though he worked hard it was not until the closing stages that he received any semblance of service.

El Hadji Diouf is going to have to be the man Rovers now turn to for goals but Saunders only dared risk him late on due to a suspect hamstring.

Simon Gillett also missed out with the same problem – Giles Barnes taking his place – and Saunders was forced into four changes from the side which performed so admirably against Barnsley.

Habib Beye came in as an emergency left-back following the return to West Ham of Herita Ilunga and Adam Lockwood continued in central defence for George Friend, who damaged remedial knee ligaments in the early stages against Barnsley and who has now been ruled out for three months.

Ironically, it was Doncaster’s most threatening player, Kyle Bennett, who then cost them the opportunity to get back in the game.

Rovers had gone behind in the 38th minute through sloppy defending when Alan Sheehan sent a free-kick from the right over the head of right-back James O’Connor, giving the unmarked Jeff Hughes time to control and fire home at the far post.

County, backed by a 3,000 vociferous following at one end while Rovers’ end remained closed on all-pay FA Cup day, had been well on top in that first half but Rovers came back after the break only for a clumsy challenge by Bennett on left-back Sheehan in the corner of the area to leave referee Phil Gibbs pointing to the spot – Beye flattening Alan Judge in the six-yard area at the same time.

Jeff Hughes calmly sent Spurs loanee David Button the wrong way to make it 2-0 to County.

The Rovers players were told a few home truths by Saunders in the dressing room afterwards and the manager emerged to say: “They gave everything they had last week but today they looked off the pace and it’s really frustrating.

“The club has been struggling for a long time and I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Some may have thought they could get away with playing at 75 per cent but we got found out.

“We set the bar when we worked our socks off to beat Barnsley but we’ve taken a step backwards now and I’m really annoyed about that.”

Of Sharp’s imminent departure he added: “We have agreed a fee with Leicester and of course it disappoints me – I am sure he would have got on the end of something today.

“It’s still not done and dusted but it will be a blow if he goes, he’s a goal scorer.”

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Doncaster Rovers: Button, O’Connor, Hird, Lockwood, Beye; Coppinger (M Woods 70), Barnes, Stock, Bennett; Bagayoko (Oster 59), Hayter. Unused substitutes: G Woods, Martis, Diatta, Gillett, Diouf.

Notts County: Nelson, Kelly (Harley 65), Chilvers, Stewart, Sheehan; Bencherif, Judge, J Hughes, Bishop; Hawley, L Hughes (Burgess 81). Unused substitutes: Mitchell, Edwards, Pearce, Allen, Hollis.

Referee: P Gibbs (W Midlands).

FA Cup results: Page 10.