Doncaster Rovers 2 Barnsley 0: Rovers’ forgotten men return to reap derby reward against Tykes

The Rovers ‘rejects’ sent a message to manager Dean Saunders and the result lifted the club off the bottom of the Championship table.

Injuries and suspensions gave Saunders no option but to recall those men who had been pushed out of the limelight in the last few weeks.

Striker James Hayter and winger Kyle Bennett scored the goals and defenders James O’Connor and Adam Lockwood ensured the team kept a rare clean sheet.

“If these boys want to stay at this club they have to work as hard as that every week,” said Saunders afterwards.

“That is the hardest we have worked as a group. Some of the players who have not been getting a game have stepped up to the plate and I thought all of them were brilliant.

“I am going to find it hard to leave any of them out after that performance,” he admitted.

Both striker El Hadji Diouf – who has yet to put pen to paper on a proposed 18-month deal – and defender Pascal Chimbonda were injured while defender Habib Beye and midfielder Herold Goulon were suspended.

Neither Damien Plessis, Habib Bamogo or Mamadou Bagayoko – who have all agreed to sign short-term deals – were able to make their debuts due to delays in obtaining international clearance.

Goalkeeper David Button, however, made an impressive first appearance for Rovers after signing on a month’s loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

Defender Herita Ilunga was the only other player in the Rovers starting line-up who had joined the club since Saunders took charge three months ago.

Having ended a run of three consecutive defeats with a 4-1 victory over Leeds United, Barnsley had travelled across South Yorkshire in buoyant mood.

The Tykes had secured the services of Derby County midfielder Miles Addison for a further month, but captain Jacob Butterfield was ruled out by a knee injury.

Rovers took the lead after 14 minutes when striker Hayter scored from a Billy Sharp pass.

It was the ideal start for Rovers who had sunk back to the bottom of the table following defeat at Watford on New Year’s Eve.

They were also looking for revenge after losing 2-0 at Oakwell six weeks ago on an afternoon where they produced easily their worst display under Saunders.

Button cut an imposing figure in the Rovers net and dealt confidently with Barnsley’s first-half attacks.

Still only 22 and standing six feet, three inches tall, he has played for England at four different age levels and has been acquiring experience with a variety of clubs on loan in the last three years.

Defender George Friend limped off after just nine minutes and is likely to miss the rest of the season with medial ligament damage.

After going behind, Barnsley’s midfield began to gain the upper hand but their strikers found it tough to get beyond a well-organised Rovers rearguard.

Button was rarely tested before the break and Vaz Te – a hat-trick hero against Leeds on New Year’s Eve – wasted his side’s best first-half opportunity when shooting wide from 10 yards out.

Defender Adam Lockwood, who was sent off in the fixture at Oakwell, appeared to be losing his cool under pressure from Barnsley striker Craig Davies and was spoken to by referee Mike Oliver following an off-the-ball altercation.

Barnsley goalkeeper Luke Steele saved from both Simon Gillett and Bennett either side of the break as Rovers threatened to double the lead.

Compared to the way they had played against Leeds, it was a far less impressive display by Barnsley.

Substitute Reuben Noble-Lazarus was sent on to try and inject a spark as Vaz Te and Davies appeared to be stuck in first gear.

The teenager drifted from flank to flank and unsettled Rovers with his turn of pace.

Button made a good low save to block a volley from Scott Wiseman who again filled in as a winger for Barnsley due to the absence of Jim O’Brien.

With 20 minutes to go, Rovers had stemmed the rising tide and were pushing forward again.

Coppinger twice went close and Steele saved a header from Sharp.

The Tykes were still in the contest as the clock ticked down to the final whistle and substitute Andy Gray scuffed a decent opportunity .

But Bennett wrapped things up for Rovers when curling a shot past Steele from 25 yards in the 89th minute.

Saunders said: “It was a great goal and great performance by Kyle. I picked him because he had been unstoppable yesterday in training.

“Out of all the players at the club, I have probably spent more time working with Kyle than anyone because he has the talent to be an outstanding footballer.”

Doncaster Rovers: Button; O’Connor, Hird, Friend (Lockwood 9), Ilunga; Coppinger, Stock, Gillett, Bennett; Sharp, Hayter. Unused substitutes: Woods, Dumbuya, Barnes, Diatta.

Barnsley: Steele; Hassell, Foster, McNulty, McEveley; Wiseman, Done (Noble-Lazarus 53) Addison (Gray 66), Perkins, Vaz Te; Davies. Unused substitutes: Preece, Edwards, Digby.

Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland).