Doncaster vs Stoke match report: Jonathan Walters' strike safely guides Premier League side through
Doncaster Rovers 1 Stoke City 2
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Your support makes all the difference.Resting key players for cup ties brings both risk and rewards for managers as Stoke City’s Mark Hughes readily recognised after goals from Peter Crouch and John Walters saw his side through a tricky tie at Doncaster.
Unsurprisingly given the run of his fixtures they face Hughes made nine changes to the line-up used in his side’s last four matches but the experience of his reserves proved a key factor.
“I had to take this opportunity to rest people although it was a risk too. But I had nine internationals out there,” Hughes said.
“It was a good cup tie and Doncaster played well and gave us some problems and we needed two quality goals to see us through.
“All in all it was a pleasing day. You know the home side’s going to have a go late on and we rode our luck a bit but we’ll take any good fortune that comes our way.”
Among the nine changes made by Hughes was a rare start for Peter Crouch, the former England frontman , and a debut for the goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard. The Dane’s quality was tested immediately as Rovers midfielder Cedric Evina stung his hands in the second minute. In fact it was the home side who made the early running and it was a surprise when they fell behind.
The full-back Aaron Taylor-Sinclair got caught out by Joselu, whose cross was glanced home by Crouch.
To Doncaster’s credit they hit straight back when Luke McCullough was allowed to run into the Stoke box and find Nathan Tyson, pictured, who finished at the second time of asking. Walters hit the winning goal 12 minutes into the second half with a thumping strike from 20 yards.
As befits a side managed by a Ferguson in the FA Cup Doncaster tried to make best use of the five minutes of added time, throwing everyone forward, but to no avail.
Darren Ferguson said: “We responded well to both goals and this team showed that it has a lot of character. The goals just showed the quality and difference between the teams but overall I’m pleased with our performance.”
Doncaster Rovers: (4-4-2) Stuckmann; Alcock, McCullough, Butler, Taylor-Sinclair (Main, 76); Middleton (MacKenzie, 89), Keegan (Chaplow, 87), Grant, Evina; Tyson, Williams
Stoke: (4-4-1-1) Haugaard; Bardsley (Johnson, 61), Shawcross, Wollscheid, Wilson; Adam (Sidwell, 87), van Ginkel; Walters, Joselu, Diouf; Crouch (Whelan, 66)
Referee: Keith Stroud
Man of the match: Charlie Adam (Stoke)
Match rating: 7/10
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