Match ends, Doncaster Rovers 2, Coventry City 0.
DoncasterDoncaster Rovers2CoventryCoventry City0
Doncaster booked their place in the League One play-offs with a hard-fought win over Coventry.
Goals from Kieran Sadlier and John Marquis saw Doncaster ride out their nerves to claim victory to clinch sixth place ahead of Peterborough United by a point.
The nerves appeared to have overcome Rovers in the early stages as they struggled to find any rhythm while Coventry showed no signs of easing off, with Brandon Mason going close for the Sky Blues.
With news filtering through that Peterborough had edged ahead at home to Burton, Doncaster knew they needed a goal.
Their lifeline eventually arrived on the half hour when Sadlier rose to head in a superb cross from Mallik Wilks for his third goal for the club following a January move from Cork City.
The goal settled Doncaster, who grew in confidence, with Wilks drawing a save from Lee Burge with a curling effort while Marquis drilled a first time strike narrowly wide.
Although Coventry refused to lie down, Doncaster had the better of the play in the second half, and they sealed the win five minutes from time when Marquis bundled home from close range for his 25th goal of the season.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Doncaster
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Marosi
- 17Blair
- 31Downing
- 6Butler
- 3Andrew
- 26CoppingerSubstituted forSmithat 82'minutes
- 8Whiteman
- 15Kane
- 7WilksBooked at 56minsSubstituted forCrawfordat 70'minutes
- 9Marquis
- 22SadlierBooked at 20minsSubstituted forRoweat 82'minutesBooked at 84mins
Substitutes
- 10Rowe
- 11Crawford
- 12Anderson
- 18Smith
- 19May
- 33Jones
- 44Lewis
Coventry
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Burge
- 17Sterling
- 15Hyam
- 4Willis
- 3Mason
- 6Kelly
- 26ShipleySubstituted forPonticelliat 74'minutes
- 23ThomasBooked at 36mins
- 24EnobakhareSubstituted forChaplinat 45+1'minutes
- 11Hiwula-Mayifuila
- 21BakayokoSubstituted forWestbrookeat 57'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Chaplin
- 19Ponticelli
- 25Westbrooke
- 33Addai
- 34Drysdale
- 41McCallum
- 44Wakefield
- Referee:
- Jeremy Simpson
- Attendance:
- 12,794
Match Stats
Home TeamDoncasterAway TeamCoventry
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home2
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Doncaster Rovers 2, Coventry City 0.
Post update
Foul by Brandon Mason (Coventry City).
Post update
John Marquis (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Danny Andrew.
Goal!
Goal! Doncaster Rovers 2, Coventry City 0. John Marquis (Doncaster Rovers) header from very close range to the top right corner.
Booking
Tommy Rowe (Doncaster Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Dujon Sterling (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Tommy Rowe (Doncaster Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Tommy Rowe replaces Kieran Sadlier.
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Tyler Smith replaces James Coppinger.
Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Danny Andrew.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Luke Thomas (Coventry City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Paul Downing.
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Jordan Ponticelli replaces Jordan Shipley.
Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Ali Crawford replaces Mallik Wilks.
Post update
Attempt saved. Matty Blair (Doncaster Rovers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. Liam Kelly (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Coventry City. Conceded by Danny Andrew.
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Zain Westbrooke replaces Amadou Bakayoko.
