SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Tuesday December 26th, 3.00pm
Keepmoat Stadium

DONCASTER ROVERS 3
James Coppinger 33
Niall Mason 43 pen
Andy Butler 66

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

Attendance: 8,032 (495 Cobblers fans)

Doncaster: Ian Lawlor, Mathieu Baudry, Andy Butler, Rodney Kongolo (sub Matty Blair 61), Niall Mason, John Marquis, Tommy Rowe, Ben Whiteman, Tyler Garratt, Alfie May (sub Alfie Beestin 82), James Coppinger
Subs not used: Marko Marosi, Craig Alcock, Joe Wright, Jordan Houghton, Liam Mandeville

Cobblers: Matt Ingram, Brendan Moloney, David Buchanan, Ash Taylor, Regan Poole, Sam Foley, Shaun McWilliams (sub Raheem Hanley 69), Matt Grimes, John-Joe O’Toole (sub Lewis McGugan 56), Marc Richards, Chris Long (sub Sam Hoskins 56)
Subs not used: David Cornell, Yaser Kasim, Billy Waters, George Smith

Referee: Mr Ben Toner

Booked:
Doncaster: none
Cobblers: Sam Hoskins (58, 2nd of the season)

10 cautions on or before 37 games; 2 match suspension       
15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Doncaster: none
Cobblers: none

Sendings off: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.

The fit again Matt Ingram returned in goal for the Boxing Day trip to Doncaster while Regan Poole replaced Aaron Pierre (groin). Shaun McWilliams and Marc Richards also came into the side for George Smith and Lewis McGugan. Matt Crooks served the second game of his two-match ban.

McWilliams went close with an early sighter from 35-yards while centre-back Andy Butler headed over for the home side. A devilish cross from Brendan Moloney then just evaded Richards and Long in front of goal in a bright start from the Cobblers.

A fine save from Ingram denied Tommy Rowe on the half hour, but Rovers were ahead not long after, another good save from Ingram and a couple of goal line clearances were not enough to prevent James Coppinger from opening the scoring.

Ian Lawlor saved with his legs to keep out an effort from McWilliams but as play moved quickly up the other end Doncaster were awarded a penalty when John Marquis went down when challenged by Matt Grimes. Niall Mason scored from the spot to double the home side’s lead.

Lewis McGugan and Sam Hoskins came on in a double change ten minutes into the second half, replacing John-Joe O’Toole and Chris Long.

Ingram twice denied Alfie May at point blank range but once again it wasn’t long before Rovers did score, Andy Butler scrambling the ball over the line from a corner to make it 3-0.

Raheem Hanley came on for McWilliams in the Cobblers final change before Hoskins saw a shot from distance comfortably saved by Lawler. May then struck the base of the post as Rovers looked for a fourth.

Coppinger had a shot saved by Ingram with the 90 minutes nearly up and 3-0 was how it finished.

DONCASTER MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 10 
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 9
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (7) 19
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (1) 2
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 3
CORNERS: (1) 4
FOULS: (4) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (3) 7