Taylor Richards sensational strike helps Doncaster climb to fourth

Doncaster Rovers secured a fourth successive win to climb into the top four in League One with a 3-1 win at Burton.

The wins signals the first time in over 18 months since Rovers have managed to win four games in a row. Darren Moore has got his team playing some excellent football with a young squad. Donny fans have a lot to look forward to and if this form continues, they could see their club in the Championship for the first time in seven years come 2021.

However, despite the defeat, Burton did not look like a side that were sitting at the foot of the table. They had most of the ball in the first half and were creating lots of chances, yet couldn’t find a way past the Rovers defence.

The away side side opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Fejiri Okenabirhie converted Cameron John’s cross. This allowed Doncaster to sit back and absorb some pressure, whilst trying to catch the home side on the break.

It was a huge blow for Burton when Leicester City loanee Sam Hughes went off injured after 15 minutes, the youngster having a tough season so far battling injuries.

Just before the break Jake Buxton’s side were awarded a spot kick after Joe Powell was brought down in the box. Lucas Akins converted, and they were level. That was the long-serving Burton player’s seventh goal of the season.

Just as the Brewers thought they were going in level at half time, Michael Bostwick clumsily fouled Okenabirhie inside the box allowing for Ben Whiteman to score his eighth goal of the season from 12 yards.

The former Derby County captain would have been very disappointed to go into the break down 2-1 after equalising just minutes earlier.

These are the kinds of moments in a game that can be turning points with a rash tackle in the box from an aggressive defender costing a vital goal.

After squandering parity, the home side came out in the second half quite sluggish.

On the 59th minute an exquisite solo effort from Taylor Richards made it 3-1 to the visitors. Richards, on loan from Brighton, took the ball from just inside the Burton half, flicked it past two oncoming defenders and guided a sensational curling effort in from 25-yards-out in ice cold fashion.

The 20-year-old will be pleased with that one, and with plenty of scouts in attendance at the Pirelli he chose the perfect time to produce a sensational piece of individual play.

Burton pressed on and tried to get a goal but just did not have the quality in the final third. The returning Kane Hemmings tried and failed to get involved in the play when he was introduced midway through the second half.

Doncaster were much the better side throughout and proved to the rest of the league that they should be taken seriously.

Buxton has accepted that things need to change if they want to stay up and said after the game: “I need to freshen the group up. We have been in contact with numerous Premier League and Championship clubs to see what players could be available to bring in.”

Darren Moore will be delighted with how his team have played in recent times.

Boxing Day is next on the calendar for these two clubs, Burton facing a tricky away fixture to Lincoln City and Doncaster hosting Accrington Stanley.

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