Doncaster Rovers 2 Barnsley 2: Wilson praises Tykes in derby fightback

Danny Wilson praised the character of his Barnsley side after they came from behind to snatch a last-minute equaliser in the crunch clash with Doncaster.
Rovers' James Coppinger celebrates his goal against Barnsley.Rovers' James Coppinger celebrates his goal against Barnsley.
Rovers' James Coppinger celebrates his goal against Barnsley.

Nick Proschwitz lashed home a Chris O’Grady cut-back to earn a 2-2 draw for the Reds who had led in the first half when the towering German capitalised on a mistake from keeper Sam Johnstone.

James Coppinger scored twice for Doncaster to overturn the lead, punishing Luke Steele’s dropped catch on the stroke of half time and then hooking the ball home from close range.

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“To keep going to the end, at this stage of the season and with the magnitude of the game, showed how much character this group has got,” Wilson said.

“We didn’t really need to lift the lads after the equaliser because we all felt that we were doing well.

“It didn’t seem to get to them because I thought they really took the game to them again.

“I thought if the game would have gone on any longer we would have won.”

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Wilson was disappointed with referee Andy D’Urso’s decision to rule out a goal from defender Martin Cranie and agreed that Doncaster should have had a penalty when James Husband was brought down by Cranie in the first half.

He said: “I’ve watched the DVD and I still can’t find a fault with the goal we had chalked off.

“There’s nothing we can do about it but it would have put us in a really strong position and you would have fancied us big style from there.

“The penalty we could have had against us was a penalty but the referee turned away and didn’t see it so he can’t give it.”

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Rovers boss Paul Dickov had warned his side about just the circumstances which led to Barnsley’s last-gasp equaliser.

“The goal is even more disappointing because we showed the lads all week that Barnsley like to get the ball into O’Grady’s feet and that’s just what they’ve done,” Dickov said.

“We’d set out to keep them out of the box and we’d done that for such a long time.

“I’m disappointed because we went 2-1 up, looking like we’re going on to win it but then switched off from a throw-in.

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“But it’s another point earned towards where we want to go.”

Dickov was seething about his side not being awarded a penalty but, like Wilson, had sympathy with his opposite number.

He said: “I think everybody thought it was a penalty.

“The fourth official told the referee over the mic at the time that it was a penalty.

“Saying that, I thought Cranie’s goal was a goal as well.

“If we’re going to be honest about it, that’s two big decisions that haven’t gone the way of either side.”