Ipswich Town 2 Doncaster Rovers 3: Diouf and Sharp show their class and offer Saunders future hope

The Senegalese international netted twice, either side of a header from Sharp, as Rovers notched only their second ever win at Portman Road.

“El-Hadji Diouf showed his class,” said the Welshman. “I’ve not said anything to him apart from go out there and play your football and he won the game for us.

“As for Billy, he’s had a tragic thing happen to him and a tough week (following the death of his baby son). Today, though, he got a goal and three points for his family. He told me he’s run out of tears. He can’t cry any more but he’s done well to get through the games.”

It was only Doncaster’s third victory of the season and Saunders said: “We played really well and our finishing was great.

“I was a bit disappointed by what happened right at the end (conceding a second goal), because if there had been another five minutes on the clock they might have got a lucky break and scrambled the ball over the line. But I can’t complain.

“We’re not a bottom-of-the-table team. We’ve got some good players – it’s just a case of stringing everything together now. I said at half-time let’s go out and make it 4-0.

“Then it would have been game over, but at three they still had a chance and I was a bit nervous on the bench.”

Ipswich were left stunned during a disastrous first half in which they found themselves 3-0 down.

Diouf tormented the home defence with his pace, strength and movement and, having shown early flashes of his quality, it was no surprise when he broke the deadlock.

Simon Gillett fed James Coppinger and the wide man’s cross from the left was powerfully headed home by the unmarked Senegalese international.

Six minutes later it was 2-0.

This time, Coppinger crossed from the right and Sharp ghosted behind the Ipswich defence to head his fourth goal of the season. Sharp would later thank the home supporters for their reaction to his strike as the majority of the Ipswich fans stood and clapped the Doncaster man as he pointed to the heavens in a celebration honouring his son.

Sharp was soon involved in the third goal, when he held the ball up and fed Diouf.

The striker powered forward, skipped round Danny Collins, and fired a low, pinpoint effort inside the left-hand post past David Stockdale.

Ipswich finally responded eight minutes into the second half through Josh Carson and then in stoppage time, Michael Chopra headed another consolation.

Ipswich Town: Stockdale, Wabara, Collins, Ingimarsson, Cresswell, Healy (Martin 27), Leadbitter, Bullard (Carson 46), Andrews, Chopra, Priskin (Emmanuel-Thomas 65). Unused substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Edwards.

Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, Chimbonda, Naylor, Martis, Friend, Stock, Gillett, Ilunga, Diouf (O’Connor 82), Sharp (Hayter 69), Coppinger. Unused substitutes: Maxted, Barnes, Bennett.

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).

Man of the match: El-Hadji Diouf.