It was a Boxing Day slog in the fog for Rovers who were beaten 3-0 by Fleetwood Town at a misty Highbury. The win gave the Cod Army the double over Rovers on the season, with a combined score of 7-0.
Doncaster started brightly, but against the early run of play were undone on the 11-minute mark when Nathan Sheron whipped a cross into the middle of the box for an untouched Paddy Madden to head down past Ian Lawlor. Rovers twice came close to an equaliser before the half with an Ali Crawford free-kick finely saved by Alex Cairns and an Andy Butler header ruled out for offside.
Injured right back Shaun Cummings was replaced by midfielder Tommy Rowe at half-time with Herbie Kane dropping into defence. It’s a position Kane is unlikely to play again as Fleetwood exploited the shift scoring two second-half goals straight through the middle of the Rovers defence. Just three minutes after the restart Tom Anderson failed to clear a long ball leaving Ched Evans through on goal to unselfishly set up Ashley Hunter. And in stoppage time Paddy Madden was put through on goal to finish neatly past Lawlor for his second of the match.
By this time a thick fog had formed over the pitch compounding the Rovers gloom. John Marquis looked uncharacteristically subdued up front and the haze was a fitting atmosphere for the match as Doncaster never looked like winning it, mustering only two shots on target.
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