MAIN MEN CONTINUE HOME RUN
PAUL Dickov says his strike pairing were crucial to Doncaster securing their maiden three-point haul of the season.
The Scot praised Andy Williams and Curtis Main as Rovers maintained their unbeaten home form, which stretches back to April, with victory over Fleetwood.
First-half goals from James Coppinger and Main edged the game in Rovers’ favour but the manager was keen to also credit Williams.
“I thought Curtis and Andy were outstanding, especially in the first half,” said Dickov.
“You defend from the front and we did that from the first minute.
“They didn’t give Fleetwood’s back three any time to play at all and that enthusiasm and workrate ends up running through the team and gets you further up the pitch.
“I was delighted for Curtis to get on the scoresheet because the last few games he’s worked his socks off.
“They caused us a few problems second half but as much possession as they had, they didn’t really hurt us.”
Both sides had chances in the early exchanges with Williams going close for Rovers before Stephen Jordan planted a header over the bar for the visitors.
Jimmy Ryan then saw a pot-shot go wide for Fleetwood before Doncaster took the lead on 17 minutes though veteran Coppinger. The 34-year-old got a vital touch on Aaron Taylor-Sinclair’s in-swinging free-kick from the right to open the scoring.
Just seven minutes later the hosts doubled their advantage with a fine, flowing move, as Main swept coolly beyond Chris Maxwell after being teed up by Williams in the box.
Fleetwood’s attempts to get back into the contest were largely restricted to long-distance efforts thanks to a resilient Rovers backline, with home stopper Thorsten Stuckmann hardly having a save to make all afternoon.
Fleetwood did however start the brighter in the second half but Antoni Sarcevic saw a free-kick come back off a post before he shot the wrong side of the net.
Doncaster should have put the game completely out of sight with 20 minutes remaining, but the industrious Williams was denied by a fine stop from Maxwell.
Fleetwood boss Graham Alexander said:“The first goal put us on the backfoot and the second was a break from our attack.
“I think we probably over-committed after the first goal instead of steadying the ship and using the next 70 minutes to try to get back into the game.
“The first goal was a deflected freekick and I think they got a bit of fortune.
“We gave them a chance by giving a cheap free-kick away and it ends up in the back of our net. That changes the complexion of the match but once we regained our composure we bossed the game.
“Goals are what it’s about but we didn’t get the goals we should have.”