RECAP: Doncaster Rovers 2 Newcastle United 3: Rowe and Bogle on target in narrow defeat to Magpies

Doncaster Rovers’ preparations for the new campaign take a significant step up this evening as they welcome Newcastle United – and you can follow it as it happens.
Ben Close in action against Newcastle. Photo: Howard Roe/AHPIX LTDBen Close in action against Newcastle. Photo: Howard Roe/AHPIX LTD
Ben Close in action against Newcastle. Photo: Howard Roe/AHPIX LTD

Join us from the Keepmoat as we bring live coverage of this evening’s friendly. Remember to REFRESH regularly for the latest updates.

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Doncaster Rovers 2 Newcastle United 3

GOAL: Fraser (12), S Longstaff (24), Rowe (30), Wilson (56), Bogle (76)

Rovers: Jones; Knoyle (Seaman 65), Williams (John 61), Anderson (Statham 73), Rowe (Horton 70); Smith (Colkett 61, Hasani 86), Reed (Crowley 61), Close (Greaves 77); Harrison, Cukur (Bogle 51), Hiwula (Onen 61). Subs: Bottomley, Trialist GK, Ravenhill.

Newcastle: Langley; Murphy, Lascelles, Dummett (Clark 70), Lewis (Bondswell 85), Hayden, Hendrick, S Longstaff, Fraser, Saint-Maximin (Gayle 67), Wilson (M Longstaff 67). Subs: Thompson, Fernandez, Watts, Allan, McEntee, Young.

A really good evening

It has been a very pleasing evening indeed from a Rovers perspective.

Taking into account the standard of the opposition and, more pressingly, the tremendous disruption Rovers have endured over the last fortnight, there were plenty of positives to take from this one.

A side who have struggled for time on the training ground in which to build cohesion and relationships demonstrated they were capable of both against genuine Premier League quality.

Rovers enjoyed excellent spells of possession, always looking to get on the front foot with great movement off the ball and of the ball.

They put the opposition on the back foot and worked opportunities around the box as well as defending really well against an at times frighteningly quick counter attack.

With a fortnight to go to the start of the season, Rovers look in a good position with time to work.

And it’s a 3-2 defeat for Rovers - but a pretty pleasing one

Lirak Hasani replaces the injured Charlie Colkett

AJ Greaves replaces Ben Close

OMAR BOGLE!

Ben Close clipped a wonderful ball in from the corner of the box with Bogle rising with a glancing header that dropped the ball into the far corner.

Jacob Murphy cuts inside off the right and lashes a low shot with the outside of his boot that drifts narrowly wide.

Trialist Max Statham replaces Tom Anderson

Newcastle should have a fourth. They surged down the right through Jacob Murphy who hit the byline and cut a pass back into the box which Ryan Fraser ran onto and just needed to tap in but sent it over the bar.

Branden Horton replaces Tommy Rowe

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