Shrewsbury Town 2 Doncaster 2 - Report and pictures

Shrewsbury Town dropped out of top two for the first time in more than four months as they sacrificed a two-goal lead to draw with Doncaster, writes Lewis Cox at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Goals either side of half-time from Mat Sadler and Carlton Morris looked to have secured the League One spoils for Paul Hurst’s men but a Rovers’ fight-back after the hour pegged the hosts back.

Sub Matthieu Baudry halved the deficit before fellow change Issam Ben Khemis’ cross drew questions from Dean Henderson as the keeper backpedaled with the ball to carry it over his own goal line.

Town, who were overhauled by Blackburn, made it two leagues games without a win aside of the West Ham cup ties.

Analysis

After back-to-back defeats in all competitions for only the second time this season, Town were looking to get back to winning ways. They responded to two defeats earlier in the season by embarking on a 10-game unbeaten run.

The thankless schedule this month, which includes nine games in 27 days, meant Hurst shuffled his options slightly as new January additions Max Lowe and Luke Hendrie were selected in the full-back positions.

Lowe slotted in for Omar Beckles on the left with Hendrie in for James Bolton on the right. The pair dropped to the bench.

Town’s midfield three and wingers remained unchanged, with Carlton Morris getting the nod over Stefan Payne up top.

But there were only three changes from Tuesday’s mammoth effort at the London Stadium and two changes from the last league outing at Blackburn.

Doncaster were enjoying their best league run of the season and five games unbeaten. Despite their boss Darren Ferguson being pulled up for comments about Rovers’ referee last week against Plymouth, the Keepmoat side had risen to 12th.

Boss Ferguson enjoyed his first win as Donny manager at the Meadow in October 2015.

Their talisman James Coppinger turned 37 on Thursday and made his 500th league appearance.

The Montgomery Waters Meadow PA referenced Shrews’ 120 minute display at West Ham ahead of kick-off and the crowd responded with an appreciative cheer.

And Shrews used the momentum straight from kick-off. Debutant Luke Hendrie enjoyed an immense first period. Eager to attack and on the front foot, using the ball well and delivering a superb ball into the box. It earned him some early plaudits.

Experienced visiting defender Andy Butler was cautioned after a cynical foul on Carlton Morris and limped off on 10 minutes, making Doncaster’s task a tougher one.

Shrewsbury were sharp to everything, winning all midfield battles, largely through the exceptional Ben Godfrey in midfield.

Morris headed Town’s early opener over the top after climbing well to meet Shaun Whalley’s delivery.

The hosts were creating openings for fun, particularly from dead ball scenarios. It took 21 minutes for the resistance to be broken as a mixture of Alex Rodman and Sadler sent a corner goalward, it came back off the woodwork and Sadler was there to gobble up the rebound with unerring accuracy.

Hurst’s men were cutting through Rovers at ease but, on a number of occasions, unable to connect with inviting deliveries.

Ian Lawlor was on his toes to keep out the busy Rodman after Godfrey’s fine first touch and pass picked out the winger.

Sadler, after netting his first of the season, was in the mood and side-footed over right-footed after Toto Nsiala had nodded down another corner.

Ferguson’s men showed glimpses of their passing ability on the ball but for the most Town were far too energetic and strong in the press to allow the visitors to settle at all.

Dean Henderson was called into work just once as he kept out a low Coppinger drive with his legs.

An entertaining first period was followed by something similar after the break. Town could have been home and dry had Lawlor not pulled out heroics to stop Nsiala’s header before Lowe fired wastefully into side netting after great approach play.

Town were given a warning, for all their dominance and clear-cut chances, as Niall Mason shot was skewed poorly wide.

But clear daylight was put between the sides as Morris pounced to score for the first time in 16 games as he hammered home into the roof of the net from inside the box. A convincing finish from the front man.

The plucky visitors did not drop their heads at the sign of Town’s second. A near post set-piece, like at Southend on December 30, was Hurst’s side’s undoing as Shrews fail to clear and sub Baudry stabbed over the line.

That put wind in the visitors’ sails and Shrewsbury could not get back into full flow.

Hurst opted to send Beckles on for Rodman in a defensive switch to shore Town up with a five-man defence.

But the Meadow crowd sensed a Doncaster surge and on 75 minutes the stadium was silenced, aside from 500 roaring Yorkshire fans, as Ben Khemis’ cross from the left was carried over his line from Henderson.

There were red and white shirts around the shot-stopper but a couple of backwards steps were all it took for referee Anthony Backhouse and his assistant to decide the ball had crossed the line.

Town could not mustar another clear opening in search of a dramatic late winner in style of their win at the Keepmoat earlier in the season as a winless run in all competitions extended to four games.

Key moments

7 - Carlton Morris climbs superbly to meet a Shaun Whalley corner but heads over the top.

21 - TOWN GOAL!! A corner is helped on to the woodwork and Mat Sadler is there to gobble up the chance by sweeping home.

34 - Ian Lawlor keeps Alex Rodman at bay with a decent stop to deny Town’s winger.

35 - Sadler should have a second but side foots over right-footed after Toto Nsiala’s nod down.

42 - James Coppinger has Rovers’ only effort of the first period from a tight left angle his low cross-shot is cleared by Dean Henderson’s feet.

46 - Nsiala powers in a header from Whalley’s cross but Lawlor makes a superb one-handed save to claw it from the goal line.

48 - Will Shrews be punished for not taking their chances? Low cross from the left is dummied and right-back Niall Mason skews poorly wide when well-placed.

49 - This time left-back Max Lowe has to score! All his work to skin defenders and cross low, it rebounds back his way but he hammers into side netting.

53 - GOAL TOWN!!! Whalley’s delivery is again met by Nsiala and it drops for Morris who hammers home to end his goal drought.

59 - Well respected minute’s applause for the late Cyrille Regis.

62 - Goal Doncaster. Town can’t get required contact on a Coppinger corner and a messy near-post scramble ends in Matthieu Baudry poking over the line from close range.

75 - Goal Doncaster. Controversial circumstances as Henderson carries Issam Ben Khemis’ cross over his own goal line.