Coppinger the hat trick hero

James Coppinger scored a sublime hat trick for Rovers as they warmed up for the Yorkshire derby against Leeds on Friday night with a comprehensive win over Norwich.

With three games in six days Rovers boss Sean O`Driscoll made two changes resting Adam Lockwood and Brian Stock and bringing in Mustapha Dumbuya and Mark Wilson.

Rovers first chance of the evening fell to Oster but his long-range shot was easily saved by ruddy.

James Coppinger went close to giving Rovers the lead but Ruddy managed to get a hand on his shot to keep it out.

It didn`t take long for Coppinger to beat Ruddy, this time his 30 yard shot beating the Norwich keeper.

Norwich tried to straight back into the game, Chris Martin having an effort going wide.

At the other end, Martin Woods tried his luck but his shot also failed to trouble the target.

Simon Gillett forced Ruddy into a save after a ball into the middle by Woods.

Rovers were enjoying the better chances, Sharp was next to have a shot but once again the ball drifted wide of the target.

Minutes later Simon Gillett had another chance for Rovers, this time he forced Ruddy into making a save.

Barnett met a Norwich free kick into the middle and his shot forced Sullivan into a save.

Rovers were still enjoying the better chances and both Sharp and Coppinger forced Ruddy into saves in quick succession.

The home side went in at half time one goal to the good but would have felt with the amount of chances they had created the lead should have been by a bigger margin.

James Coppinger doubled the lead early in the second half, a ball into the middle by Friend found Coppinger inside the six-yard box and he found the bottom corner.

Norwich tried to find a way straight back into the game when they was awarded a free kick on the edge of the area.

Sullivan turned out Chris Martin`s free kick for a corner.

From the resulting corner, Sullivan was again forced into a save from a Lee Crofts shot.

Rovers almost made it three, only a great save by Ruddy keeping out Woods.

Norwich got back into the game just past the hour when Chris Martin headed in a Holt cross.

Sullivan preserved Rovers lead when he saved a Wes Hoolahan volley.

James Coppinger completed his hat trick with five minutes remaining when his free kick beat Ruddy as the ball nestled in the top corner.



Teams

Doncaster
Sullivan, O`Connor, Dumbuya, Martis, Friend, Coppinger, Oster (Stock 72), Wilson, Gillett (Shiels 77), M. Woods, Sharp (Hird 87)

Subs not used:
G. Woods, Lockwood, Mason, Fairhurst,

Norwich
Ruddy, R. Martin, Ward, Barnett, Drury, Crofts, McNamee, Hoolahan, Smith (Hughes 86), C. Martin, Holt (Johnson 80)

Subs not used:
Rudd, Jackson, Fox, Lappin, Askou

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