York are back as Saunders targets Paynter

He knows he must clinch the deal today to bring in striker Billy Paynter from Leeds United after seeing his attack comfortably snuffed out by the Ministermen in Saturday’s first-round encounter.

Fortunately for Saunders, his players proved spot on after they had been given a helping hand by the long arm of the law.

Referee Graham Salisbury explained that police had told him that the penalty shootout must be taken at the home end, giving Rovers that pyschological advantage – a decision which puzzled and annoyed York manager Gary Mills.

Striker Chris Brown got Rovers on their way in the shootout, having scored from the spot in the 73rd minute to make it 1-1.

Michael Coulson had not only kicked off York’s long-awaited return to Football League competitive action but had brought the game to life with a cracking 67th-minute strike when he cut in from the right and curled the ball beyond goalkeeper Gary Woods.

But the former Barnsley frontman was way off target with York’s first penalty attempt and Matty Blair was also high and wide after successful conversions from Martin Woods, Kyle Bennett and Robbie Blake for the hosts and Jon Challinor and Michael Potts for the visitors.

It meant no fairytale return for York, whose relegation from the Football League was confirmed at the ramshackle Belle Vue stadium in April, 2004 when Rovers clinched their promotion with a 3-1 victory.

A lot has changed in the intervening years, not least Rovers having had a sparkling new stadium built which they officially take control of from the council today.

York’s new ground is a couple of years away but Mills enthused: “This is wonderful, it’s why we worked so hard to get back in the Football League to be able to play on a stage like this. It’s lovely. Every ground should be like this. It gives players a lift.

“We can’t wait to get our new ground but we will certainly enjoy the couple of years before that happens establishing ouselves as a good Football League team.

“We have done well today. It’s a great start for us, playing the way we played. Over 90 minutes, we have got a 1-1 draw at Doncaster but unfortunately the rules no longer give you a replay. We have paid the penalty to excuse the pun after what was a good performance.

“I take plenty of positives from this performance. Playing 120 minutes will do them the world of good – bring on next Saturday. It’s still pre-season if you look at it like that. It was a fantastic workout.”

Of the decision not to toss for ends for the shootout, Mills added: “I don’t understand why the police got involved. I don’t see any reason they had to get involved. We should have been told before kick-off, not after 90 minutes and extra-time. I think it is a learning curve for the referee and everybody.”

Opposite number Saunders, whose budget has been cut by 75 per cent following relegation from the Championship, freely admitted that his players are still under-cooked.

He is still rebuilding but has had to wait to ship out some of his high earners before being able to bring in new faces.

Two deals, however, were completed on Saturday morning, play-maker Brian Stock moving out to Burnley and central defender Jamie McCombe moving in from Huddersfield.

Providing Paynter agrees to join today, Saunders knows he will only be able to bring in a couple more new faces and he is sweating over one of his debutants, Cardiff City right-back Paul Quinn, who was stretchered off holding his right calf in extra-time. The best scenario Saunders can hope for is that it was only cramp.

It was easy to understand why he gave the captain’s armband to former Sheffield Wednesday central defender Rob Jones, who led by example, making vital tackles against the inter-weaving York front three. Jones partnered Tommy Spurr but McCombe’s arrival will allow him to resume in his more accustomed left-back role.

Rovers were at their best out wide with David Cotterill showing flashes of goal threat and James Coppinger teasing and tantalising when he was moved out to the right from a central role behind Brown.

Apart from at set plays, however, when the big men came forward, there was no one to get on the end of Coppinger’s deliveries – Chris Smith and Chris Doig so comfortable in the heart of the York defence – and it was only when Lee Bullock tripped Cotterill after they had challenged for a ball in from the left that Doncaster were awarded their spot-kick reprieve, Brown beating Michael Ingham inside his right-hand post.

Another debutant, David Syers, from Bradford City, gave Rovers an attacking thrust from midfield when he came on in the second half but there was only a brief cameo from experienced frontman Blake, who obviously needs more conditioning work before he can bring his undoubted goal threat into play.

Saunders reflected: “The teams that come out of the Conference have a winning formula and I knew it was going to be tough. Fair play to York who forced the game and scored a great goal and we had to dig deep.

“We defended well considering we are short of players. All I asked for was to scrape through with no injuries. Unfortunately, Paul Quinn got injured – one injury and we are in all sorts of trouble because I haven’t got another right-back. And with Stocky leaving, I have only three in midfield.

“We have only 16 players as we speak and that is obviously not enough to get us through the season.

“It’s not ideal and we have had no preparation really. Most of the players have never played with each other really. It’s obvious we need a goalscorer as we can’t keep making chances like those created by Coppinger in the second half and not put the ball away.”

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Doncaster Rovers: Woods, Quinn (Wakefield 95), Jones, Spurr, Husband; Coppinger, Keegan (Syers 59), Woods, Cotterill (Blake 106); Brown, Bennett. Unused substitutes: Maxted.

York City: Ingham, Parslow, C Smith, Doig, Fyfield; J Smith (Potts 113), Bullock, McLaughlin (Challinor 87); Chambers, Walker (Blair 78), Coulson. Unused substitutes: Musselwhite, Blanchett, Johnson, Henderson.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancs).