Doncaster Rovers claimed the honours in the South Yorkshire derby with Sheffield United at the Keepmoat with a great first half performance.
Two fantastically worked team goals from James Coppinger and former Blades striker Billy Sharp were enough to claim the points.
Sean O`Driscoll was able to bring back Shelton Martis, James O`Connor, Martin Woods and James Hayter from injury.
Rovers dominated from the start and Martin Woods almost gave them the lead inside the opening minute when his strong run and left foot shot saw the ball go agonisingly wide of the post.
James Coppinger was next to try his luck with Simonsen saving his shot from the edge of the area.
John Oster then made himself an opening when he cut inside but failed to hit the target when he should have done better.
Sheffield`s first sight on goal was an overhead kick by Mark Yeates that was easily saved by Sullivan.
Sharp was next to have a chance on goal, but his header cleared the bar after a cross from Dumbuya.
Rovers finally took the lead on 33 minutes when a good one two between Coppinger and Sharp put Coppinger through on goal and he coolly placed the ball past Simonsen.
Within ten minutes, it was 2-0 after some more terrific football from Rovers.
Young on loan defender Joseph Mills was heavily involved; he linked up well with Oster before playing the ball into the middle for Hayter to shoot. Simonsen only parried his shot and there was former Blades striker Billy Sharp to react and blast the ball into the back of the net.
Sharp was delighted to score and despite not celebrating against his former club he lifted his shirt up to reveal a t-shirt saying ‘Only a fat lad from Sheffield`.
His delight was only short lived as within minutes he was pulling up with a hamstring injury that ended his afternoon on the stroke of half time.
United boss Gary Speed didn`t leave it long before making a change at the start of the second half, he brought on Jamie Ward and within seconds he had a great chance to get them back into the game when he lifted the ball over Sullivan but also wide.
Rovers best chance of the second half was when Stock fired over from the edge of the area after being set up by Hayter.
The Blades best chance of the game came with fifteen minutes remaining when Richard Cresswell headed wide from a free kick.
Rovers seemed content to play out the second half with Sheffield United not causing any real threat.
Yeates had the visitor`s last chance of the game in the final minute but Sullivan easily saved his shot.
The win lifts Rovers back into the top half of the table in eleventh place on nineteen points.
Teams
Doncaster
Sullivan, Dumbuya, Martis (Lockwood 76), O`Connor, Mills, Oster, Stock, M. Woods (Hird 80), Coppinger, Sharp (Shiels 45), Hayter
Subs not used
G. Woods, Webster, Wilson
Sheffield United
Simonsen, Calve, Nosworthy, Morgan, De Laet, Yeates, Ertl (Lawton 58), Quinn, Cresswell (Stew 84), Bogdanovic (Ward 51) Britton
Subs nit used
Wright, Taylor, Bartley, James
Join Vital Donny
Join Vital Doncaster Rovers!
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!
You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.
Vital is also 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forum but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.
So why not join Vital today?
It’s easy to register here and enjoy getting involved
Message Board
To visit the message board, click here.
Get involved
This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital Doncaster .
