Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Doncaster Rovers 0.
BlackburnBlackburn Rovers1DoncasterDoncaster Rovers0
Gary Bowyer's Blackburn Rovers stay just two points adrift of the play-off places after Rudy Gestede's header saw off struggling Doncaster Rovers.
Rovers' January signing from Cardiff City headed home just before the break for his second goal for the club.
Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson kept out Alex Peterson's header late on with a point-blank save.
It was Blackburn's second league win in a row and extended their run to just one loss in eight matches.
The loss keeps Doncaster in the bottom three and they have picked up just two points from 27 on their travels.
Blackburn dominated early on and saw Tom Cairney shoot off target when in a good position twice.
Goalkeeper Ross Turnbull then kept out a swerving Ben Marshall shot before Gestede headed home Jordan Rhodes's cross.
Rhodes could have put the game out of sight on the hour-mark but his fierce effort was repelled by Turnbull.
Robinson was making his first league start for 13 months and had to be alert a minute later to tip a dangerous James Coppinger cross behind.
The keeper secured a win with two magnificent injury-time saves, palming behind an Petersen header, and then producing a superb low save from a Richie Wellens volley.
Blackburn Rovers manager Gary Bowyer:
"It was a massive win, a very important win after the Manchester City [FA Cup] game because expectations go through the roof.
"So full credit to the players because they were very professional and stayed focus on the job in hand against a very difficult Doncaster team.
"Overall it was a huge win for us."
Doncaster Rovers boss Paul Dickov:
"The difference is we've made one mistake and been punished, and Paul Robinson.
"Robinson showed why he's an England international with the two saves at the end.
"The first one was special. I've just seen it again and it was top class."
Line-ups
Blackburn
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Robinson
- 27HenleyBooked at 60mins
- 3Spurr
- 6LoweBooked at 7mins
- 16Dann
- 5Hanley
- 12Marshall
- 45CairneySubstituted forTaylorat 78'minutes
- 39GestedeSubstituted forDunnat 72'minutes
- 11RhodesSubstituted forCampbellat 84'minutes
- 17Williamson
Substitutes
- 4Kilgallon
- 8Dunn
- 10Campbell
- 13Eastwood
- 19Taylor
- 23Rochina
- 24Morris
Doncaster
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Turnbull
- 12McCulloughSubstituted forCotterillat 79'minutes
- 31Stevens
- 19WellensBooked at 4mins
- 14KhumaloBooked at 66mins
- 20MéitéBooked at 45mins
- 26Coppinger
- 21De Val Fernandez
- 9Brown
- 25ForresterSubstituted forDuffyat 68'minutes
- 3HusbandBooked at 36minsSubstituted forPetersonat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Furman
- 7Duffy
- 11Cotterill
- 13Maxted
- 15Wakefield
- 23Bennett
- 30Peterson
- Referee:
- Jeremy Simpson
- Attendance:
- 13,954
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamDoncaster
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Doncaster Rovers 0.
Post update
Attempt saved. Richard Wellens (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marc.
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Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Paul Robinson.
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Attempt saved. Alex Peterson (Doncaster Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Mark Duffy with a cross.
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Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Scott Dann.
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David Cotterill (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Lee Williamson (Blackburn Rovers).
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Attempt missed. Mark Duffy (Doncaster Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by David Cotterill.
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Enda Stevens (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Chris Taylor (Blackburn Rovers).
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Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Abdoulaye Méité.
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Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by James Coppinger.
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Attempt missed. Chris Brown (Doncaster Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Enda Stevens with a cross.
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Abdoulaye Méité (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by DJ Campbell (Blackburn Rovers).
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Hand ball by James Coppinger (Doncaster Rovers).
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Foul by Richard Wellens (Doncaster Rovers).
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Ben Marshall (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. DJ Campbell replaces Jordan Rhodes.
