Doncaster Rovers 3 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

In what was a crucial match for Dean Keates’ side, the visitors found themselves a goal behind after just two minutes when George Dobson brought down Mallik Wilks.

Replays later showed the foul was just outside the box but referee Graham Salisbury awarded a penalty which John Marquis scored.

Almost immediately after the re-start, Grant McCann’s side doubled their advantage with Wilks dancing into the box before firing the bottom corner.

The Saddlers should have been given a penalty of their own moments later when Josh Gordon was fouled by Marko Marosi but this time Salisbury gave nothing.

Zeli Ismail had an effort blocked off the lie and Isaiah Osbourne hit the crossbar before Gordon did pull a goal back by firing in from close range.

But a Danny Andrew free-kick put Donny 3-1 up.

In the second half, Gordon saw another shout for a penalty waved away while Walsall created numerous other half-chances.

But in the end, their dreadful start came back to bite them with the result the Saddlers fourth loss in a row.

The result means they remain in the relegation zone in League One on goal difference.

ANALYSIS

Despite coming under pressure to recall top scorer Andy Cook, Keates opted to keep faith with the team that was so unfortunate to lose against Barnsley when naming his starting XI.

It meant the Saddlers continued in a 4-3-3 formation with Josh Gordon the central striker and Zeli Ismail and Corey Blackett-Taylor either side.

On the bench, Joe Slinn was the substitute keeper with the youngster being recalled from his loan at Rushall Olympic due to Chris Dunn falling ill.

Doncaster lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system with James Coppinger behind John Marquis in the number 10 role and Mallik Wilks on the right wing and with Kieran Sadlier on the left.

In what was a truly extraordinary opening to the match, Walsall found themselves 2-1 down after 15 minutes but they could have been 3-2 ahead.

Doncaster opened the scoring after just two minutes when George Dobson brought down Wilks with referee Graham Salisbury taking his time before deciding the foul took place inside the box.

Marquis comfortably stroked home the resultant penalty.

And almost immediately from the re-start, the hosts had a second with Wilks dancing past a number of challenges and into the box before curling a strike into the far corner.

It was a catastrophic start for Keates’ side.

But they responded well and should have had a penalty of their own moments later.

After Dan Scarr sent a cross into the box, keeper Marko Marosi dropped the ball under pressure from Gordon.

But the glovesman then tripped the striker as he looked set to fire in with referee Salisbury for some reason opting to wave play on.

Undeterred, Walsall again should have scored when Blackett-Taylor stood up a cross to the back post.

The delivery was met by Ismail but the winger’s header was blocked on the line by Danny Andrew.

In the 14th minute though, Keates’ men did pull a goal back - with Gordon prodding in from close range following a mammoth scramble from a corner.

After the manic start, the game settled for a short period before going crazy again with the next goal looking set to be a crucial one.

It was Donny who got it though with Andrew brilliantly firing in a free-kick from 25-yards.

Again Walsall responded and they should have gone in at the break just a goal behind when Ismail sent in a cross towards the back post.

Liam Kinsella headed it back into the danger area with Gordon then seeing a shot from just yards out blocked.

But the ball fell kindly for Osbourne who from point blank range headed against the bar when he should have scored.

Walsall appealed for another penalty seconds after the re-start with Gordon again going down but referee Salisbury again not giving a foul.

Then in the 51st minute Keates switched Andy Cook for Osbourne in a move that saw the Saddlers go to a traditional 4-4-2.

And the sub also paid immediate dividends with Cook flicking the ball onto Blackett-Taylor who then saw an arrowed drive well tipped away Marosi.

Again it felt like the next goal would be crucial with Walsall going close once more when Guthrie headed wide from a corner. Then at the other end, Doncaster responded with Downing heading another corner off-target.

Walsall had been looking dangerous but as the clock ticked past the 70 minute mark, Donny had done well to take the sting out of the game.

In their 4-4-2, the Saddlers were now being over-ran in midfield.

But they threatened again when Blackett-Taylor darted into the box. Gordon then took the ball from the winger’s toe and hit a fierce drive but Marosi got down well to tip it away.

From that point the game ebbed and flowed from side to side, but neither wide created a chance they should have scored with Donny holding on comfortably for their win.

TEAMS

Doncaster: Marosi, Blair, Downing, Butler, Andrew, Crawford, Rowe, Wilks (May 87), Coppinger (Hasani 81), Sadlier (Smith 64), Marquis.

Subs not used: Jones, Anderson, Beesrin, Lewis.

Walsall: Roberts, Devlin, Scarr, Guthrie, Leahy, Dobson, Kinsella, Osbourne (Cook 52), Ismail (Ferrier 67), Gordon, Blackett-Taylor (Oteh 83).

Subs not used: Slinn, Norman, Fitzwater, Edwards.

Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).