Doncaster Rovers 0-1 Sunderland
Chris Maguire’s second-half strike clinched Sunderland’s third successive League One win on Tuesday evening, as Doncaster Rovers became the latest side to fall to Jack Ross’ side.
A gritty opening 45 minutes saw five players booked as both sides went full throttle, but the Lads seized control of the game following the restart.
After Lynden Gooch curled an effort onto the post, Maguire reacted quickest to rifle the ball into the roof of the net and lift the roof off the Keepmoat Stadium.
Luke O’Nien was denied his second in as many games after coming off the bench, but his opportunistic finish was correctly ruled out for offside.
However, Maguire’s goal was enough, as the Black Cats returned to Wearside with the points.
Sunderland were forced into a change ahead of the game, as Sky Bet League One’s top scorer, Josh Maja, missed out.
Captain George Honeyman replaced the striker in the starting XI, while Jerome Sinclair led the line.
The Lads roared out of the traps and they created two great opportunities in the opening five minutes.
After starring on his comeback against Shrewsbury Town, Gooch led the charge firing an early effort wide before crossing to the back post where Maguire was unable to direct his header on target.
But Doncaster fired a warning shot of their own on nine minutes, as Andy Butler forced a low save from Jon McLaughlin.
The game continued at a frenetic pace as the sides clattered into each other on multiple occasions, with Dylan McGeouch and Lee Cattermole both picking up early bookings.
Mallik Wilks, Benjamin Whiteman and Honeyman were also cautioned before the interval, with late drama seeing McLaughlin once again prove his worth.
In stoppage time, Rovers broke clean through on two occasions, but the Scotland international stood tall to deny Wilks before producing a similarly impressive stop to thwart Matty Blair.
And after the restart, Maguire showed them all how it’s done.
With 49 minutes on the clock the home side failed to clear their lines after Gooch struck the post, and the forward slammed the rebound into the roof of the net to spark jubilant scenes on and off the pitch.
The Lads had the ball in the back of the net again with 16 minutes remaining, but this time it was ruled out, as O’Nien was denied by an offside flag.
But it didn’t matter in the end, as Maguire’s strike clinched another win for the Lads!
Doncaster Rovers: Marosi, Mason, Andrew, Wright, Butler, Wilks, Whiteman, Maquis, Kane, Blair (Anderson 73), Coppinger.
Subs not used: Lawlor, Crawford, Taylor, May, Anderson, Amos.
Sunderland: McLaughlin, Matthews, James, Baldwin, Flanagan, McGeouch, Cattermole (O’Nien 64), Gooch, Honeyman, Maguire, Sinclair.
Subs not used: Ruiter, Ozturk, McGeady, Love, Mumba, Kimpioka.
