Doncaster 1 Burnley 0: Coppinger provides impetus

The 29-year-old was helped the home side end a run of four consecutive defeats and provided the decisive 59th-minute cross that Burnley’s Michael Duff could only divert into his own goal.

Doncaster were boosted heading into the clash by the inclusion of captain Brian Stock after a calf injury, while Sam Hird deputised in central defence for the injured Matthew Kilgallon.

Rovers boss Sean O’Driscoll also handed 20-year-old goalkeeper Gary Woods his first-ever start after first-choice Neil Sullivan picked up an injury.

Chances were sparse in the opening exchanges as the two sides cancelled one another out, but Rovers began to exert an increasing amount of pressure midway through the half with James Hayter proving a menace.

After the break, the goal came when Coppinger whipped in a dangerous-looking cross that Duff headed into his own goal.

Burnley then came to life and had a number of chances but O’Driscoll’s side held on.

Doncaster Rovers: Gary Woods, Chambers, O’Connor, Hird, Friend, Coppinger, Oster (Shiels 89), Stock (Souza 84), Keegan, Hayter (Brooker 46), Sharp. Unsued substitutes: Bradshaw, Webster, Mason, Fairhurst.

Burnley: Grant, Mears, Duff, Carlisle, Fox, Elliott (Iwelumo 65), Marney, Cork, Eagles, Austin (Paterson 71), Rodriguez (Wallace 75). Unsued substitutes: Jensen, Alexander, Bikey, Thompson.

Referee: Oliver Langford (W Midlands).