Doncaster Rovers recorded their second double over Derby County in succession, with a 2-1 win at the Keepmoat thanks to their loan stars.
Billy Sharp and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who scored two goals apiece in last weekends win again were on the score sheet to keep Rovers in with an outside chance of the play offs, despite Sean O`Driscoll playing down their hopes earlier in the week.
Rovers once again stuck with the same side that had done well at Bristol City and Preston in the past week as they looked to stretch their unbeaten run to four.
Billy Sharp showed a lot of character to give Rovers the lead on the quarter hour, he was fouled in the area to win Rovers a penalty.
Sharp had seen his penalty at Preston in midweek excellently saved but this time he gave the Derby keeper no chance to give Rovers the lead.
Rovers extended their lead with just over twenty minutes left when Emmanuel-Thomas scored his third goal in three starts since arriving from Arsenal with an unstoppable left foot shot from 20 yards.
Derby were thrown a lifeline within five minutes when Rob Hulse was given time in the box to shoot and score.
The visitors pressed hard to try and find an equaliser in the closing minutes but couldn`t break through a resolute Rovers defence marshalled by Elliott Ward who was playing his last game in his loan spell before returning to Coventry City.
Another three points won and Rovers fans are not sure whether to look at it as three more points towards the magical fifty and safety in the Championship or towards their push towards the play offs.
Teams
Doncaster
Sullivan, O`Connor, Roberts, Chambers, Ward, Oster, Wilson, Coppinger, Sharp, Hayter, Emmanuel-Thomas
Subs
Smith, Hird, Martis, Woods, Mutch, Guy, Shiels
Derby
David Martin, McEveley, Barker, Buxton, Green, Savage, Pearson, Hulse, Hunt, Tonge, Davies
Subs
Leacock, Moxey, Dave Martin, Porter, Anderson, Sunu, Severn
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