Doncaster 2 Huddersfield 0: Robins unhappy at inconsistency, as delighted Dickov praises Rovers

Rovers were hammered 5-0 at Bournemouth the previous week with Huddersfield winning by an identical score against Barnsley.

But the formbook went out of the window in this match as Doncaster deservedly chalked up their first win in six games.

Inconsistent Huddersfield began the game on top but had no answer when Rovers seized control with goals in each half from Billy Sharp and David Cotterill.

It was Huddersfield’s seventh defeat in the past 10 games with each of their previous three victories being followed by a loss.

Huddersfield set a blistering pace at the start winning three corners in the first couple of minutes.

But, although Town edged the early stages, Rovers were resolute in defence and allowed them few chances.

It was an open game with plenty of end-to-end action but defences remained on top for the first 20 minutes.

Despite the visitors’ pressure it was Doncaster who landed the first shot on target when Sharp had a 20-yard effort saved after Murray Wallace had failed to clear a through ball from Gabriel Tamas.

Rovers had earlier had an appeal for a penalty rejected when Anthony Gerrard appeared to push Chris Brown and the home side enjoyed a spell on top which led to them taking the lead in the 28th minute.

A corner from Cotterill was headed down by Tamas and Sharp flicked the ball home from close range.

Confidence rose in the Rovers’ ranks and James Husband and Cotterill both went close in quick succession.

Huddersfield hit back towards the interval with Nahki Wells denied by a great tackle from Abdoulaye Meite before Adam Hammill had a shot saved by home keeper Sam Johnstone’s legs.

Rovers had a lucky escape just before the interval when Paul Keegan cleared a header from Gerrard off the line.

Town were first out of the blocks again at the start of the second half with Paul Dixon having a shot parried before Johnstone showed razor-sharp reflexes to tip away a cracking effort from Wells.

But the home team asserted themselves again to take control and wrap up the points.

Tamas headed just wide from a 50th-minute corner before Doncaster notched their second goal following an excellent move started by the outstanding Brown.

Brown fed Mark Duffy in clever style and the Rovers’ winger crossed for Cotterill to slot the ball home in fine style in the 55th minute.

Huddersfield struggled to respond although substitute Martin Paterson had an angled effort saved as they battled to the finish.

Huddersfield manager Mark Robins bemoaned: “We had well over 2,000 supporters here today and we had to do better for them than that.

“I don’t know whether it’s a feeling of safety being mid table but we can’t keep winning one week and losing the next.”

Rovers manager Paul Dickov said: “We owed the fans after Bournemouth where we let ourselves and them down and we played like we can do today.

“I said to the players before the game not to leave anything out there and when you have a team willing to run and put their bodies on the line then you are difficult to beat.

“We just need to keep our standards high because we know we are capable of beating most teams when we play like that.”