LIVE: Burton Albion v Doncaster Rovers: Build-up and full match coverage

Doncaster Rovers continue their quest for a first away win of the season as they visit Burton Albion – and you can follow the action as it happens.
The Pirelli Stadium, home of Burton AlbionThe Pirelli Stadium, home of Burton Albion
The Pirelli Stadium, home of Burton Albion

Join us from the Pirelli Stadium as we bring live coverage of today’s clash. Remember to REFRESH regularly for the latest updates.

LIVE: Burton Albion 2 Doncaster Rovers 0

MATCH DETAILS

GOALS: O’Connor (55), Jebbison (75)

BURTON: Garratt; Shaugnessy, Leak, Borthwick-Jackson; Hamer, Taylor (Chapman 85), O’Connor, Akins; Smith (Lakin 85), Jebbison (Mancienne 87), Hemmings. Subs: Hawkins, Morris, Powell, Amadi-Holloway.

ROVERS: Dahlberg; Knoyle, Anderson, Rowe, Horton (Cukur 67); Galbraith, Close (Hasani 46); Barlow, Smith, Hiwula; Dodoo. Subs: Jones, Blythe, Faulkner, Ravenhill, Tavonga.

REFEREE: Peter Wright (Merseyside)

SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH

There will be talk of controversy over Burton’s second goal but it shouldn’t mask a performance that lacked any real threat from Rovers.

They were toothless after the break and didn’t have any control of the game whatsoever.

Their inability to affect games that are not going their way is a major, major concern and we saw why today as they could easily have lost by more goals.

4.55pm ALL OVER

And it ends in a 2-0 defeat for Rovers

4.50pm ADDED TIME

Four minutes

82min CHANCE

Tiago Cukur does really well on the edge of the box to get the ball on the control and lay off for Aidan Barlow but he is crowded out as he gets his shot away.

80min PRETTY MUCH OVER

There’s very little in the way of fight from Rovers in this game and no sign that they can force their way back into things.

75min YELLOW CARD

Joe Dodoo is booked for his protests in the aftermath of the goal

75min GOAL BURTON

Daniel Jebbison hooks in from close range and there will be some controversy about this one.

After an almighty scramble in the box, Jebbison turned home and the assistant initially flagged for offside.

The referee went over for a conversation and overturned the decision, awarding the goal.

67min SUBSTITUTION

Tiago Cukur replaces Branden Horton.

And it certinaly looks like a switch to 3-5-2 system at this stage with Hiwula and Barlow as wing backs.

62min CHANCE

Tom Anderson gets up well to block a Tom O’Connor shot with his head. It’s all Burton here.

55min GOAL Burton

Tom O’Connor curls in a free kick from the wide areas that goes through everyone and into the back of the net.

52min BIG CHANCE

Kane Hemmings really should have put the hosts ahead when he latched onto a loose ball just inside the box and curled on goal, only for Branden Horton to block with his legs.

The chance came from a run from half way from Daniel Jebbison who Rovers just couldn’t deal with. Much better was needed in defensive terms.

4.05pm BACK UNDERWAY

HALF TIME CHANGE

Lirak Hasani replaces Ben Close, who received treatment just before the break.

A LOT OF WIND, NOT A LOT OF QUALITY

It’s not been the best of games, that is safe to say. There’s been a lack of quality on show from both teams meaning plenty of play has quickly broken down. The conditions have not helped with howling wind and a sticky playing surface certainly playing their parts in disrupting things.

Rovers’ best threat has been from looking to release the attacking players early but they’e struggled to play the balls with the required weight to make it truly count. The ball should hold up more in the wind kicking in the opposite direction, so let’s hope they can make it count.

It’s finely poised at this stage and they must avoid letting things slip away from them against a dynamic opposition attack. But it is certainly there for the taking.

3.48pm THAT’S THE BREAK

3.45pm ADDED TIME

Three minutes

40min BIG CHANCE

Pontus Dahlberg produces an excellent save to deny Ryan Leak from eight yards, shooting out his palm out to keep out the snapshot. The ball was sent back across by Jonny Smith but no Burton player could turn it home.

39min YELLOW CARD

Ben Close, Doncaster Rovers

36min NO SUSTAINED POSSESSION

Neither side can really keep hold of the ball and there is an awful lot of rather aimless balls forward. More composure is needed, particularly from Rovers.

29min YELLOW CARD

Aidan Barlow, Doncaster Rovers

22min SCRAPPY BUT COMPETITIVE

The conditions are certainly playing a part here because there has been very little quality on show so far in this game. Both sides have seen decent amounts of the ball, with the hosts probably having the better of things.

5min CLOSE-ISH

Aidan Barlow stabs a cross into the box which forces Burton keeper Ben Garratt to act. He goes up unconvincingly and drops the ball out for a corner.

3.01pm UNDERWAY

Jonny Smith takes the kick-off and we’re up and running

2.58pm TEAMS OUT

MORE ON TAYLOR

I’m told Jon Taylor is not involved as the club look to manage his workload following eight months on the sidelines.

Taylor has played more than 120 minutes across four days following his lengthy spell out and it was felt that today, on a soft and difficult playing surface, that it would have potentially been pushing the winger too far.

His procedure early this week was never likely to produce immediate results and the real benefits of it will be felt a few weeks down the line.

So we’re assured it is not a setback, but instead it is just Rovers taking the cautious approach with Taylor as he works his way back to full fitness.

TEAM IS IN

And it is THREE changes from the side that started against Bolton in midweek.

Joseph Olowu misses out through suspension while Louis Jones drops to the bench. And the big news is that Jon Taylor misses out entirely.

The winger underwent a procedure on Wednesday to clear up the last of the issues with his ankle injury but he has not trained since and misses out today. We’ll get an update after the game.

Coming in for Rovers are Pontus Dahlberg, Ben Close and Jordy Hiwula.

And the bench is exceptionally young - again.

AND THE HOSTS

EYE ON THE OPPOSITION

Burton come into today’s game on the back of an impressive 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley in midweek.

But that followed a four game run of league defeats where they only managed to score once.

Boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will welcome back Michael Mancienne and Michael Bostwick but Albion remain without Deji Oshilaja (suspension) while Louis Moult (ankle) and Tom Hewlett (leg) continue to make progress from their longer-term injuries.

EARLY TEAM NEWS

Rovers should finally have some welcome injury news - even if it came alongside yet more bad.

Ben Close and Jordy Hiwula should be involved today having recovered from respective hamstring and foot complaints.

Close’s return in particular is timely, with John Bostock now set to be out for three months with an ankle injury.

The big poser of the day is at centre half with Joseph Olowu failing in his bid to overturn the red card he received at Bolton in midweek, meaning he will miss the next three matches.

With Ro-Shaun Williams out for six weeks with an ankle injury, Richie Wellens suggested he is likely to start Tommy Rowe at centre back alongside Tom Anderson. Rowe has performed well in the positioning following enforced switches in two recent matches.

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