Doncaster Rovers 1 Colchester United 0: Cotterill’s late strike takes Rovers to top

Saunders last night replaced Stale Solbakken after Wolves’ FA Cup defeat to Luton.

But 24 hours earlier, Doncaster moved level with Tranmere Rovers at the top with victory over Colchester, who suffered a club record-equalling eighth successive league defeat.

David Cotterill curled in the winner late on for his 10th goal of the season and Saunders said: “Last week’s game against Sheffield United emotionally and physically took its toll on the players and you could see that we were a yard short.

“But that’s four games without the opposition having even half a chance against us – Sheffield United scored from a penalty and a goalmouth scramble – so we’re defending great and when we don’t string it together (like on Saturday) we keep a clean sheet and stay in the game.

“It was a big win for us and we have to push on from here.”

Josh Thompson thought he had headed the visitors ahead but an infringement saw the referee disallow the ‘goal’.

Peterborough striker Emile Sinclair made his Rovers debut after leaving Barnsley, where he had also been on loan. He was replaced by midfield man Lee Fowler, who has joined from Fleetwood for an undisclosed fee until the end of the season, after the interval.

Iain Hume forced Mark Cousins into a fine save before the game’s defining moment. Cotterill picked up possession on halfway and was allowed to run to the edge of the area where he unleashed a curling effort into the far corner.

Doncaster Rovers: G Woods, Quinn, 
R Jones, McCombe, Spurr, Cotterill (Husband 87), Keegan, Syers, Bennett (Coppinger 67), Hume, Sinclair (Fowler 67). Unused substitutes: Maxted, Griffin, Martis, Harper.

Colchester United: Cousins, Wilson, Okuonghae, Thompson, Rose, Massey, Izzet (Bond 77), Wordsworth, Bean, Wright (Compton 69), Samuel (Porter 87). Unused substitutes: Pentney, Sears, Heath, Morrison.

Referee: R Clark (Northumberland).

Man of the match: David Cotterill.