Doncaster Rovers 0 Crawley 0: Lack of quality clear as home win eludes Rovers

Eight games now without a victory at the Keepmoat since Sheffield Wednesday were beaten amid much delirium among Rovers supporters on March 22 – how that seems to be an eternity away this morning.

It was scant consolation that Rovers took something away last night after successive defeats to Bristol City and Oldham.

Make no mistake, these are worrying times for fans, with the paucity of options available to Paul Dickov below a threadbare senior squad all too obvious.

His side could not be faulted for effort in front of a sparse crowd of 5,197, one of the lowest gates, certainly in the league, since Rovers moved to the Keepmoat in January 2007.

But quality was in short supply, with it taking until the dying embers for Rovers to mount their most sustained and meaningful passage of attacking play in a frenzied finale which was as welcome as it was unexpected.

Twice, Theo Robinson went desperately close to a winner, only to be thwarted by point-blank saves by former Leeds United goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown – making his debut for Crawley after spending part of the summer on trial at the Keepmoat.

It was symptomatic of how things have been going at the Keepmoat, rapidly turning into a house of pain and not a citadel.

The soothsayer in Dickov said that it would take his side time to adapt this season given a far from ideal pre-season, which saw recruitment at a go-slow for most of the summer and several established players leave following relegation, with their first significant arrival in Nathan Tyson not coming in until July 28.

Those words have certainly rung true, with Rovers continuing to find their feet back in League One, with no magic solution in sight and no hope of a serious impact on the division if things aren’t arrested fast.

In his 200th game as a manager, it was hardly a case of happy anniversary for Dickov, with his side in 18th spot in the table, their lowest position for around seven years.

Ahead of the game, Dickov warned his side they needed to get back in his good books after two poor performances, effectively telling them they had two chances to impress him before he entered the loan market.

Intent was there from his charges, with Kyle Bennett and James Coppinger threatening to unhinge Crawley sporadically in the first half hour.

But from an early juncture, it looked likely to be an exercise in patience with the visitors saturating midfield and attempting to stifle the hosts.

Richie Wellens saw an early shot drift wide, while Coppinger fired a decent free-kick chance over, but it was Town who had the best opportunity of the half – Gavin Tomlin’s high ball in leaving Rovers all at sea, with Ryan Dickson’s header flying just off target.

Rovers possessed two game runners in Robinson and Tyson, but unfortunately there was little predatory bite in front of goal, with Ashdown untroubled on his debut throughout a first half in which he was largely a bystander.

To their credit, the diehards in the meagre crowd kept with the hosts, despite their best attacking endeavours usually coming to a tame end.

No doubt cajoled not to lose faith by Dickov at the interval following a display which had energy, but scant quality, Rovers attempted to find a way in the hope that something, somewhere, would fall for them.

Robinson hared away down the right soon after the restart, but his dangerous cross was cleared by Dean Leacock.

The visiting defender then felled Wellens in a dangerous position just outside the box, providing the chance that Rovers could ill-afford to waste, but Bennett’s free-kick cannoned apologetically into the wall.

Robinson saw a shot deflected, but Rovers’ efforts were borne out of hope rather than pure conviction, with little experienced attacking nous available to throw on from the bench for Dickov to play with.

A player very much in that category is Izale McLeod, who netted a late winner at Rovers’ neighbours Barnsley on the opening day, and he almost conjured a breakthrough with his low shot deflected just wide of Jed Steer.

McLeod then fed Tomlin who saw his effort blocked, with the impression starting to generate that if anyone was going to nick a winner, it was Crawley.

Rovers did tentatively threaten with Coppinger shooting at Ashdown before Joe Walsh headed over at the other end.

Tyson then saw a snapshot fly off beam ahead of a frantic end when Robinson’s point-blank header was beaten away by Ashdown, who then denied the striker with his legs after first blocking Coppinger’s low strike.

A rare cameo of animation in a frustrating evening for home fans.

Doncaster Rovers: Steer; Wabara, McCombe, McCullough, Evina; Coppinger, Keegan, Wellens, Bennett; Robinson, Tyson. Unused substitutes: Marosi, Furman, Wakefield, De Val, Peterson, Askins, Ferguson.

Crawley Town: Ashdown, Bawling, Leacock, Walsh, Sadler; Tomlin (Banya 78), Smith, Keane, Wright (Henderson 56), Dickson; McLeod (Harrold 82). Unused substitutes: Bradley, Young, Edwards, Jensen.

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).