Doncaster Rovers 0 Notts County 1: Doncaster are left to battle it out on final day

Rovers would have been promoted on Saturday if they had beaten Notts County – joining Bournemouth in going up – but slumped to a surprise home defeat.

Joss Labadie’s sweet 30-yard free-kick after just 14 minutes stunned the majority of the 12,624 Keepmoat Stadium crowd.

Despite a much-improved second-half display from Doncaster, they could not unlock the visiting defence, with goalkeeper Fabian Spiess in top form.

Rovers now travel to Brentford, who could only draw at relegated Hartlepool United, on Saturday with the hosts two points behind in the battle for the second automatic promotion spot.

A draw would be sufficient for Brian Flynn’s team but defeat would consign them to the play-offs alongside neighbours Sheffield United, Yeovil and Swindon Town.

“We would have taken this scenario at the beginning of the season, we just have to make sure we do it,” said striker Brown, Rovers having been tipped by many to struggle after relegation from the Championship last term.

“It’s a tough game at Brentford, but we have always done well this season by bouncing back from defeats. We have a lot of character in the dressing room.

“We will have a good week’s training, and go there really fresh.

“Brentford are a good side, but so are we. We have gone to just as tough places and got results at different stages of the season and we will have to do it again.

“It won’t be difficult to pick the lads up. If we win the game, we go up, it’s as simple as that. That’s all the motivation you need.”

Brown believes Rovers paid the penalty for starting the game sluggishly, and were victims of a wonder-strike from the impressive Labadie, who, along with Yoann Arquin, caught the eye in County’s midfield.

It was one of the worst 45 minutes of football produced by
Rovers this season, but after the break James Coppinger and David Cotterill injected more urgency and the introduction of David Syers from the bench helped the hosts take a strangehold on the match.

“In the second half, I thought we were going to do it, applying all the pressure,” said former Hull City loanee Brown. “The balls in the box just didn’t seem to fall for us, the goalkeeper parried one and Rob Jones had a header, but it just wasn’t to be.

“The goal killed us a little bit. Even though we didn’t start well, at 0-0 we always had a chance. But the goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of us a little bit.

“I don’t think it was nerves. In the second half, we came out and dominated the game like last week at Crewe when we came out 1-0 down and won the game 2-1. We dominated here, but just couldn’t score.

“It was a great strike for their goal. We just didn’t start well, didn’t get them turned early doors or put them under pressure enough, which let them into the game.

“In the first 10 or 15 minutes we just didn’t have the energy to get in people’s faces, which is disappointing. If we had got an early goal in the second half we would have won the game.”

The goal came out of nothing. There looked little danger when Labadie took possession but he arrowed a fierce shot into the top corner which gave goalkeeper Neil Sullivan no chance.

Dean Furman had the ball in the County goal but his header was ruled out after the midfielder had drifted into an offside position.

Coppinger had delivered an inviting far-post cross, which Billy Paynter nodded back across goal, but the linesman’s flag denied Furman.

Captain Rob Jones then sent a header the wrong side of the post as Rovers tried to break down a County side who were not afraid to pass the ball on a poor pitch.

John Lundstram had a 20-yarder tipped over by visiting goalkeeper Spiess, who also had to be alert to deny Coppinger and then Brown in quick succession.

Paynter also had a great chance to level just after half-time, Coppinger flicking the ball over his head, for the striker – recalled after his two goals at Crewe – who could not keep his header down.

It was all Rovers in the second half but the goal refused to come. Paynter raced down the right but with Brown waiting at the back post, the former Leeds United striker’s effort was blocked by a defender.

Rovers manager Flynn threw on Syers for Lundstram with half-an- hour remaining as he looked to break County’s resistance.

Visiting captain Dean Leacock deflected Coppinger’s goalbound shot wide, and from the resulting corner, Jones headed over.

Syers had an effort blocked by Alan Sheehan before bustling Paynter crashed through and rounded the goalkeeper only to find the line blocked by two covering defenders.

Spiess was having an assured afternoon in goal and he produced another smart save to get down well to Coppinger’s 20-yard free-kick in the dying minutes of normal time.

It was a deflated stadium come the final whistle, as Rovers failed to deliver in front of one of their biggest crowds of the season.

“It was a good crowd, they got behind us the whole way and it was just disappointing we couldn’t give them something, a late goal,” added Brown.

“We now have to make sure we do it next week.”

If Rovers do achieve their ambition and take all three points it will extend their club record run of away victories in a season to 15.

They will, however, travel to a side who boast the best home record in the division with 14 wins, six draws and just two defeats.

Game on!