How Doncaster Rovers fell to a third straight defeat against Hartlepool United
Doncaster have lost their last two matches to slip to fifteenth in League Two ahead of kick-off, five points off the play-off places.
Keith Curle’s Hartlepool have also lost their last two fixtures and head into the clash just one point above the relegation zone.
They also have the division’s worst defensive record, while only Crawley have picked up fewer points than them away from home this term.
Doncaster Rovers v Hartlepool United LIVE
Key Events
- Doncaster looking to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats
- Hartlepool have also lost their last two and head into the clash one point above the relegation zone
- Keith Curle hands four of his 11 January signings their debuts in the starting XI
Hartlepool score
Criminal. Dan Dodds breaks away and sends a low strike into the ball into the back of the net via the post. The visitors have scored with their first shot on target all game.
Doncaster penalty appeal
Caolan Lavery falls down in the box as Hartlepool clear a cross but the referee is having none of it.
Hartlepool go close
They’re having a little spell and right-back Jamie Sterry fires just wide from distance. A good effort, to be fair.
Luke Molyneux comes on
He replaces Ben Nelson. Can the winger finally score his first Rovers goal against his old club? The script is written, surely.
Molyneux grabbed 12 goals for Hartlepool last term.
Lengthy stoppage
Ben Nelson has been receiving treatment for an off-the-ball incident. Looks OK to carry on.
Ex-Hartlepool man Luke Molyneux being readied for Doncaster.
Charlie Lakin called over to the subs’ bench
Looks like the central midfielder is coming on. He scored twice against Bolton Wanderers’ B Team on Tuesday.
Hartlepool sub
Josh Umerah is on. He’s scored 10 goals this term. On the bench today because of illness apparently. He replaces Tayt Trusty.
Biggins has just fired a half-volley just wide following a pass into him by Tom Anderson. Thirty minutes to go here.
Now Biggins goes close
A ball into Miller from Ben Nelson is miscontrolled but it doesn’t matter as it falls to Biggins, who fires over. The midfielder just couldn’t release the ball from underneath his feet and get over it. Again, unlucky from the hosts. They’re getting closer.
Another Doncaster chance
Miller fires low at goal and sees the ball saved after a clever flick from Harrison Biggins presented him with a clear sight at goal.
More good link-up play between the front two
A Hartlepool defender miscontrols a ball out from his keeper and Doncaster take a quick throw-in, which releases Lavery down the right. He finds Miller in the box but the latter can’t get the ball under control.
Unlucky. Doncaster on top again.
Hartlepool booking
Lavery’s pace is causing problems and Edon Pruti sees yellow for bringing him down and stopping another Rovers attack.