DRFC - Rovers go down fighting

Doncaster Rovers FA Cup run came to an end but not before giving their Premiership opposition a huge fright at Villa Park.

Rovers made two changes from the side that drew with Norwich on Friday, Jason Price and Martin Woods replaced Mark Wilson and Paul Heffernan.

Ashley Young had a good early chance for Villa but his shot was blazed over the bar.

Rovers fell behind on the quarter hour, Sullivan punched out a free kick to the edge of the area to Craig Gardner, Gardner`s shot was well saved by Sullivan but Sidwell was quickest to react and put Villa in front.

Rovers were dealt a cruel blow soon afterwards when Carew`s shot from the edge of the box was deflected and it left Sullivan no chance in the Rovers goal.

Richie Wellens should have got Rovers back into it soon afterwards but shot wide when he had a clean shot on goal from eighteen yards.

The Championship side were controlling large periods of play and a flurry of corners saw chances fall to Coppinger and Woods.

Rovers finally got the goal that their first half effort had deserved on the stroke of half time, Coppinger played a low ball into the middle and Jason Price steered the ball wide of Guzan in the Villa goal.

The Visitors continued where they had left off in the first half and attacked Villa straight from the re start.

Brian Stock had a 30 yard effort tipped around the post has Rovers continued to look for an equaliser.

Villa killed the tie off just past the hour when Shorey`s cross into the middle was met by Delfouneso whose header found the corner of the net.

Rovers soon had a chance to get back into the tie when Price and Wellens were faced by only one Villa defender, Wellens tried to go on his own and failed to get past the last man.

Coppinger and Price then both had shots saved has Rovers refused to give in.

Boss O`Driscoll made a triple change with fifteen minutes left two of the substitutes Guy and Heffernan soon combined to give Guy a chance but his shot found row z rather than the back of the net.

The clock was run down by Villa but they were more than matched by their Championship opponents and Doncaster can take great heart in their battle to stay up on the back of this performance.

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