Doncaster Rovers handed a lesson in finishing in defeat to Salford City

Doncaster managed 20 efforts on goal but lacked the quality to make a breakthrough at the Eco-Power Stadium on Tuesday night, with just four of their attempts on target.

At the other end veteran target man Matt Smith, 34, ruthlessly punished them for an off night as he scored a hat-trick to reach 13 goals for the season.

Salford could have scored even before their first-minute opener after a sloppy start from Doncaster’s defenders presented Ryan Watson with a golden chance.

Seconds after kick-off the ball fell to an unmarked Watson inside the box, but his snapshot was blocked by Luke Molyneux.

Moments later Smith headed the Red Devils in front with some help from the crossbar to leave the home crowd shell-shocked.

Doncaster’s response was positive and Salford stopper Alex Cairns saved superbly to deny them a tenth-minute equaliser.

Doncaster-born Cairns was at full stretch to tip Harrison Biggins' dipping shot over the bar after superb solo play and vision from Ben Close to set up the chance.

Close beat several challenges as he drove into Salford’s half then showed quick thinking to find Biggins in space.

The hosts enjoyed the better of the play from then on - and for the majority of the evening - but Smith headed his side two goals ahead after 26 minutes.

In a rare attack, which started in their half, Salford passed the ball around Rovers with ease, working it into the box where Smith headed home after escaping his marker.

Despite the scoreline Doncaster continued to dominate possession without finding a breakthrough, which was a theme of their play all night.

They had Salford pinned back at the end of the first 45 and Cairns needed two attempts to gather Joe Ironside's header when he nodded down Tom Nixon's cross.

That missed chance was almost punished on the stroke of half time.

More poor defending allowed Smith the chance to turn and shoot. The big striker slipped, with the ball running free for Watson who hooked it over from six yards out.

Cairns comfortably collected Mo Faal’s diving header in Doncaster’s first meaningful attack of the second half, which came ten minutes after the restart.

Cairns was beaten just before the hour mark when Zain Westbrooke connected with Molyneux’s cross, but his header hit the bar before nestling onto the roof of the net.

Ironside thought he’d made the breakthrough when he headed into the back into the net, only for the linesman to rule the goal out for offside.

Faal then blazed over when played through on goal before substitute George Broadbent dragged a shot wide with Doncaster still in control.

But they paid the price for their wasteful finishing when Smith completed his hat-trick.

League Two’s new top-scorer Smith was left with a tap-in in the 77th minute after Louis Jones could only parry Declan John’s effort following a counter-attack.

Molyneux hit the bar with a speculative curling effort in the final ten minutes before Faal missed his connection with a six-yard box delivery by inches in the final moments.

That miss probably summed up his side’s lack of luck in front of goal on the night.