Notts County 0-1 Doncaster Rovers
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Notts County manager Ian McParland and his side will be wondering how they didn't score tonight after an enthralling Carling Cup first round tie at Meadow Lane. Notts dominated the first half, hitting the woodwork three times, but tired late on after James Coppinger ensured a win for Rovers with their first shot on target of the match. McParland made a handful of changes from the side that beat Bradford City on Saturday, with Mike Edwards, Matt Hamshaw, Jamie Clapham and Karl Hawley all being handed their first starts of the new campaign. Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll also tinkered with his side after their 1-1 draw at Watford, making seven changes.
The Magpies started brightly as both sides impressed with their passing football on a warm night at Meadow Lane. Karl Hawley had the first real opening of the match and will be disappointed not to have opened his Notts account. Jamie Clapham broke away down the left and swung in a low cross which Hawley slid in to reach, but he was stretching and sent the ball over the bar from close range. The Magpies were the first side into their stride and began to monopolise possession, making the visitors chase after the ball for long periods.
Luke Rodgers was next to test Doncaster 'keeper Smith as he was played through but could only hook a tame volley at the 'keeper with his left foot. Rodgers came close again soon after, some brilliant football saw Ricky Ravenhill burst in behind the Rovers defence and square the ball for Rodgers, who did everything right but his clipped left foot shot hit underside of the bar and was cleared by the defence. Notts were now well on top of the game and Stephen Hunt should've done better with a free header from a Matt Hamshaw free-kick as he headed wide.
Rovers were struggling to create anything of note, with James Coppinger having their first shot in anger as he dragged an effort wide from 25 yards. Notts were soon back in the ascendency though and won a free-kick on the edge of the box when Karl Hawley was brought down. Jamie Clapham lined the ball up and his delightfull floated effort seemed to be flying in but once again the bar came to Doncaster's rescue and the ball was cleared. The Notts fans were now in full voice and urging their team forward. Luke Rodgers and Karl Hawley were linking up well and a delightfull flick from Hawley saw Rodgers clean through but he was dubiously flagged offside by the assistant.
Ricky Ravenhill was the next to try his luck, as Matt Hamshaw cut inside and laid it off, Ravenhill's shot was well parried by the 'keeper but fell to Jamie Clapham who slid the ball under Smith's body but the ball agonisingly struck the inside the far post and rolled back along the line. At this point Notts really had done everything but score, but they continued to plug away until the half-time break with Rodgers once again almost finding a way through after a neat interchange with Hawley.
There was always a worry that the half-time interval came at the wrong time for Notts and this proved to be the case as the visitors began to put a foot on the ball and show a bit of their Championship class. Dean Shiels dragged a shot narrowly wide before the deadlock was broken by the visitors. James Coppinger latched onto a neat pass by Jamie Guy on the right flank and cut inside Brendan Moloney. Mike Edwards tried to charge down the shot but slipped on the wet turf, allowing Coppinger to hit a low shot inside Russell Hoult's near post. It was a devastating blow for the Magpies who had been in complete control for most of the match so far.
Doncaster now began to dictate the game however with their midfield putting their foot on the ball and playing the passes well. John Oster's far post volley was well gathered by Russell Hoult after Lee Hughes had been brought on for the Magpies to replace Luke Rodgers. Hoult once again had to be alert to save down low from Jamie Guy who had been played in by a clever pass from Michael Woods. Lee Hughes then had the Magpies' golden chance to level the game after a rapid break away, Neal Bishop played an inch perfect through ball to Hughes but Saturday's hat-trick hero could only fire across the face of goal and wide after being forced away from goal.
Coppinger then had a golden chance to seal the game after an excellent run got him into the box, but he miscued and fired a tame shot wide of Russell Hoult's far post. The Magpies had a goal disallowed after Craig Westcarr played Lee Hughes in and the ball was played across the face of goal and turned home by Karl Hawley. A linesman's flag was up however to deny the Magpies, much to the frustration of Hughes. Notts threw everything at Doncaster in the final minutes with a succession of corners, one of which saw Jamie Clapham have another long range piledriver well blocked by the Rovers defence. The final action of the match saw Neal Bishop unceremoniously bundled over in the corner of the penalty box, but after a long deliberation the referee game a goal kick rather than a penalty. A truly baffling decision, considering that had the Rovers player not got a touch on the ball then it was a stonewall penalty. Notts can be happy with their efforts however against a good side and could reflect on this as a blessing in disguise, especially with their opponents on Saturday Macclesfield Town facing a tough match with Leicester City on Saturday. If only the woodwork had been a bit more kind to them however, they'd be looking forward to tomorrow's second round draw.
Notts County - Hoult, Moloney, Edwards, Thompson, Hunt, Hamshaw (Westcarr), Bishop, Ravenhill, Clapham, Hawley, Rodgers (Hughes)
Notts County 0
Doncaster Rovers 1 (Coppinger 54) |
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