Chesterfield 1-2 Doncaster Rovers: Last-gasp Jack Senior fires Rovers into third round

By Nick Johnson

Doncaster Rovers came from behind to beat Chesterfield 2-1 and secure their place in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Jack Senior struck a last-minute winner after Owen Bailey’s goal in the first half had cancelled out Lee Bonis’ opener.

Chesterfield played with ten men for the final half-an-hour after substitute John Fleck was sent off. 

McCann said: “It was a tough game, it always is here.

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Nip and tuck

“I think it was a bit nip and tuck, but ultimately, the sending off changed the course of the game because it actually made it tougher for us.

“I felt, as it does against ten men, where they sit in and probably the last 15 -20 minutes we’re more like a 5-3-1, which is difficult to break down.

“But we do a lot of this sort of stuff in training and it’s about being patient and keep moving the ball side to side.


“It was an excellent finish to win us the game.”

Match action

During a quiet opening to the game, Chesterfield keeper Zach Hemming stood up well to Jordan Gibson, making an important save.

The tie burst into life just after the half-hour mark.

Bonis scored a 31st-minute opener, pouncing on the loose ball after Thimothee Lo-Tutala parried Liam Mandeville’s effort.

Doncaster equalised just three minutes later when Bailey headed in Luke Molyneux’s cross.

The hosts went down to ten men in the 61st minute after the referee showed Fleck a red card for a high challenge on Bailey, only six minutes after he came on.

Senior settled it in the 90th minute, firing in a low shot which Hemming got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

Chesterfield, who lost 5-1 at Doncaster in the Vertu Trophy in midweek, were unable to match their League One opponents.

Turning point

Chesterfield coach Gary Roberts felt the sending off was the turning point in the tie.

“I thought 11 v 11, I thought we were the better team,” he said. “We felt quite comfortable in the game.

“We’ve conceded two goals with ten men on the pitch.

“I think the game has changed on the decision – I haven’t seen it back, so I can’t really comment too much on the tackle, but he seemed quite confident it was a red card, and I think it just changed the game.

“I didn’t think it was bad, I just thought it was a yellow card. 11 v 11, I thought it was one of our best performances for a while.”

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