Rovers travelled over the Pennines for what, on paper, looked the toughest away day of the season against promotion favourites Blackburn. How Doncaster fared would give a good indication of how the season ahead may pan out.
The match kicked off in bright sunshine with Ewood Park looking every bit a former Premier League ground. The first half was cagey with Doncaster slowly growing into the game, and though Blackburn finished the half stronger, at 0-0 there was widespread agreement we’ve nothing to fear in this division.
The second-half started with high expectation, which quickly turned to delirium as John Marquis capitalised on a defensive error to drill home his first goal of the campaign.
Better was to come, with Blackburn hunting to get something from the afternoon Doncaster looked dangerous on the break; their skill and pace was troubling the lumbering home defence. First it was the turn of James Coppinger, bundled over in the box, he got up to dispatch the penalty straight down the middle. Next up Alfie May, snapping at defenders’ heals, caused another mistake from which he gratefully rolled the ball into an empty net.
Blackburn netted a consolation right at the end, but by then the home crowd had long departed and the visitors were singing ‘we’re on our way to the Championship’.
Were Blackburn rubbish, were Doncaster superb? Probably a bit of both, but who cares? It was a great day. On this evidence League One could well be a piece of cake.
by Neil Allen
popular STAND fanzine 