REDS V DONCASTER ROVERS - LIVE FROM OAKWELL!!! LISTEN FOR FREE HERE!!!

BARNSLEY 0
DONCASTER ROVERS 1 (Coppinger 35)

BARNSLEY threw everything at Doncaster in the second half but a combination of wayward finishing and a brilliant Neil Sullivan save denied the Reds a deserved share of the spoils.

With the South Yorkshire pride and local bragging rights at stake, Reds boss Mark Robins made changes to his starting eleven following back-to-back away defeats at Ipswich Town and Bristol City. With the play offs still an outside possibility, the Reds needed to get back to winning ways with eight matches remaining starting with today's clash with Doncaster Rovers and it meant a return to the side for Darren Moore, Anderson, Adam Hammill and Andy Gray. Out went Bobby Hassell, Emil Hallfredsson, Jon Macken and Daniel Bogdanovic.

The Reds were on the front foot from the very first whistle as Hammill's bursting run caught out Shelton Martis but the winger's cross was just in front of Gray in the centre. It was a positive start from the men in red.

Rovers almost benefited from a controversial decision on five minutes as Luke Potter appeared to knock the ball out of play off James Chambers only for the assistant to award a corner. James Coppinger's centre was well worked but Mark Wilson could not find the target on the volley from the edge of the box.

A couple of early corners put the Reds under pressure as Doncaster found their feet although it was the home side who went closest to breaking the deadlock on ten minutes as Ryan Shotton's long throw was met by Gray but the striker glanced a difficult header wide of the target.

Hammill was next to try his luck on 25 minutes as he cut in onto Nathan Doyle's pass but the winger's effort flew well over the bar.

Billy Sharp then enraged the home support on 28 minutes with a dive under the slightest of shoulder charges from Stephen Foster. The referee rightly waved away his appeals for a penalty.

Reds boss Robins made his first change a minute later with Bogdanovic replacing Filipe Teixeira.

Sharp again could have picked up a booking on the half hour for a cynical kick out at Moore after the Reds defender had easily nicked the ball away. The Sheffield United striker was not endearing himself to the home support. Sharp was finally booked seconds later for kicking the ball away after being flagged offside.

Bogdanovic fired a warning shot at Rovers on 31 minutes after breaking onto Gray's flick but the striker was beaten by the angle and his effort flew well over. The Maltese striker was a little lucky to escape a caution himself seconds later after tripping Coppinger on half way.

Rovers snatched the lead on 35 minutes after Coppinger took on Jay Emmanuel-Thomas' short corner curled a low shot past an unsighted Luke Steele as the Reds stood off.

The Reds responded well and Gray earned a decent looking free kick on 37 minutes after being barged in the back by Martis. Hammill took the kick but his effort was straight at Sullivan.

The Reds were two inches away from an equalise on 45 minutes as Anderson rose highest to meet Hammill's corner and his header smacked the crossbar before bouncing over.

Barnsley made the brighter start to the second half but it was Rovers who went closest to extending their lead on 48 minutes as James Hayter fed Sharp in the area but the striker dragged a low shot well wide of the far post.

Anderson then did his best to fashion an opening a minute later as Gray almost burst through the Doncaster defence. The ball bounced kindly for Anderson but the Brazilian lashed his shot well wide.

Emmanuel-Thomas went close from distance and Bogdanovic brought a save from Sullivan as play switched from end to end. Sharp then should have done better on 52 minutes as he met Coppinger's fine cross but nodded the ball weakly wide of the post from six yards out.

Sharp was walking a tightrope again on 58 minutes as he tripped Moore when the pair were racing towards a long ball forward. The striker was so aggrieved when another decision went against him moments later that he gestured to the Rovers bench to be substituted.

Coppinger was still full of running and a constant threat down the right flank. The winger brought a smart save from Steele on 64 minutes after cutting onto a loose ball but it was always easy for the Reds keeper to hold.

A scrap between Hugo Colace and Oster ended with both players putting their heads together to earn a booking apiece on 71 minutes. It was the first real flashpoint of a South Yorkshire derby that had really failed to ignite.

Anderson shot straight at Sullivan on 72 minutes as did Hammill seconds later as Barnsley came on strong. The Reds were almost caught out on 80 minutes as Oster's quick corner fell to Coppinger but Shotton was in the right place to block.

Bogdanovic had a great chance to level things on 81 minutes as he cut in from the left flank and past Martis but the striker rather threw himself over the defender's leg in an attempt to win a penalty. The referee was never going to give it. Bogdanovic could have even been booked.

Bogdanovic turned provider seconds later as his header sent Colace away and in the clear and the midfielder lashed a shot goalward but was denied by Sullivan's outstanding save.

Bogdanovic again found the right pass through Doncaster on 84 minutes and once more Colace was faced up by Sullivan but the midfielder this time smacked his volley into a defender. The loose ball fell to Hammill and the winger's shot looked to be heading goalward before striking the arm of Gareth Roberts. It would have been a soft penalty.

Hallfredsson split Doncaster on 85 minutes to send Bogdanovic away down the left channel but the striker took and early shot and blazed high over.

Colace spurned another golden chance to level things on 86 minutes as he lost his marker to meet Luke Potter's brilliant cross but his diving header flew well wide.

Shotton was a very lucky man in stoppage time as he hauled back Hayter after losing out to the Rovers striker as he looked to burst through on goal. It could have been so much worse for the on loan defender.

The Reds threw everything into a desperate end to the game from Colace's late corner including keeper Steele but just could not find a way through a Rovers side who will feel very, very lucky to have nicked all three points.

BARNSLEY: Steele, Shotton, Foster, Moore, Potter, Teixeira (Bogdanovic 28), Doyle (Butterfield 55), Colace, Hammill, Anderson (Hallfredsson 73), Gray.
Subs: Preece, Hume, Macken, Thompson.

DONCASTER ROVERS: Sullivan, O'Connor, Roberts, Sharp (Lockwood 84), Chambers, Hayter, Wilson, Oster, Coppinger, Martis, Emmanuel-Thomas (Woods 90).
Subs: Smith, McDaid, Sheils, Mutch, Hird.

REFEREE
Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Dave McCallum (Tyne & Wear) and Kevin Mattocks (Lancashire)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Darren Handley (Lancashire)

Attendance - 11,188

Report by Rob Knowles

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR YOUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR!!!

WATCH PLAYER FOR FREE - CLICK HERE FOR MORE

CLICK HERE FOR TICKET INFORMATION FROM OAKWELL!!!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP ONLINE

©WWW.BARNSLEYFC.CO.UK 2010 RNK

GET THE EXCLUSIVES FIRST - Subscribers to our official SMS service are the first to hear all the big news from inside Oakwell. Be the first to know about all the latest exclusive news from Oakwell next time by signing up to our text service today - click here for more.

Try mobile.barnsleyfc.co.uk - The official website is now available on your phone, for when you're on the move.