Report by SJG

EFL TROPHY

DONCASTER ROVERS vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

16^th January 2024

LATICS PAY THE PENALTY AS WEMBLEY DREAM ENDS.

Wigan came into this tie as favourites as Doncaster were struggling at the wrong end of Division Two. It was a freezing cold evening and a small crowd of 1,530 braved the conditions to see which side could take another step closer to Wembley.

The home side made the Wigan keeper work in the opening exchanges when Hurst drove a shot in from the edge of the box but Amos collected with relative ease and then at the other end a lovely flowing move involving several players ended with Clare whipping a pin point cross into the Doncaster penalty area and WYKE powered home an unstoppable header past Jones in the home goal.

With an early goal in the bag Latics seemed to ease back and rather than put the result beyond doubt they seemed content to play the ball around in midfield. On 26 minutes the Rovers nearly made Wigan pay when Molyneux connected with a Hurst cross but his effort flew narrowly over the bar. Then another ball into the box was headed just wide by Bailey with Amos flat-footed.

Wigan failed to heed the warnings and with five minutes to the break Bailey again went close with a low drive that flew inches wide of the post.  Then on the stroke of half-time Molyneux took down a long Jones kick and then curled a shot that was only just beyond the far post.

Half Time; Doncaster Rovers 0-1 Wigan Athletic.

The second half started in similar fashion with Doncaster pressing hard and Wigan just unable to get back control of the game. The early fluency had evaporated and now it was all hands to the pump as Latics tried to hold onto their lead. Carty and McGrath both had good efforts before the Doncaster pressure was finally rewarded.  On 70 minutes a long cross from the right was met by the head of BAILEY and it found the top corner, beyond the reach of Ben Amos.  

Maloney made four changes as he shuffled the pack in an attempt to reinvigorate the Wigan attack, but it was Rovers who had the next chance with Carty sending in a dipping volley that landed on the roof of the Wigan net. On the 80-minute mark Humphrys nearly produced a wonder goal when his jinking run took him past a whole host of bemused defenders but the ball just ran away from him and his hurried shot was pushed away by Jones in the home goal. It was now Wigan who looked the more likely winners and following a freekick the ball fell to Hughes who let fly a low drive that was turned away by Jones at full stretch. Time was against Wigan and try as they might they could not find the killer goal and the game went to the lottery of penalty kicks with Doncaster winning 4-2.

Full Time; Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Wyke (11); Bailey (70);

Attendance; 1,530

WIGAN (4-2-3-1) --- Amos; Clare, Hughes, Kerr, Robinson; M. Smith, Adeeko; J. Smith, Aasgaard, McManaman; Wyke; Subs; Magennis, Shaw, Jones, Humphrys;

DONCASTER ROVERS (4-3-3) --- Jones; Rowe, McGrath, Olowu, Nixon; Bailey, Close, Broadbent; Hurst, Carty, Molyneux; Subs; Ironside, Taylor;

Referee; Mr Ollie Yates (Staffordshire)