Doncaster 0 Shrewsbury Town 0 - Report and pictures

Shrewsbury’s hunt for a first win under John Askey’s goes on but improving Town were the better side in a 0-0 draw with Doncaster, writes Lewis Cox at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Winless Town played out their second successive goalless draw but, like against Blackpool on Saturday, could say they deserved all of the spoils.

But they failed to take advantage of decent chances on goal while in control and have just one goal in four league games.

But back-to-back clean sheets will offer comfort to Askey against a Donny side who won their first two games of the season.

The visitors were by far the better side in the second period but could not take advantage of numerous presentale openings.

Askey, who went into a game without any fitness concerns for the first time this season, kept an unchanged XI - and bench - from the squad that earned a first point of the season against Blackpool.

There were no place in the squad for midfielders Ollie Norburn and Charlie Colkett, the former having recovered from a dead leg.

Lenell John-Lewis kept his place as the lone striker after making his first league start for Town on Saturday.

But Askey was impressed with the way his side handled the Montgomery Waters Meadow draw with Blackpool and decided they were worthy of another start.

The hosts, who had enjoyed a fine start to the season under new boss Grant McCann, won their first two League One games of the season but lost for the first time under his stewardship at Burton on Saturday.

They were also unchanged. McCann promises a brand of open, exciting football and Rovers fans have enjoyed just that so far at the beginning of an exciting Keepmoat Stadium era.

The opening stages were largely uninspiring and, despite a decent atmosphere in South Yorkshire, neither side settled down into confident periods of possession.

The hosts were having some joy down the right through flying full-back Niall Mason and won a handful of early corners to test the Town box. The visitors struggled to clear one and big defender Joe Wright headed wide.

Balls into the box were giving McCann’s side some joy and a goalbound John Marquis nod down was cleared by Luke Waterfall for Town.

The clash opened up and Askey’s men enjoyed their best moments when pressed high on the Doncaster defence and forcing errors.

One should have led to a Shrewsbury penalty but referee Darren Drysdale missed one of the more stonewall appeals there is likely to be this season.

Shaun Whalley cut in the left side of the box, rode a couple of challenges before he was scythed down by Wright but the official, standing yards from the incident, waved it away.

Town’s Coleman had to be on his toes to deny Liverpool loanee Herbie Kane’s strike from distance.

Rovers’ threat continued to come down the right and lively Leeds loan man Wilks sent a

sharp low effort towards Coleman’s front post that the keeper held on to well.

Chances were not quite falling the way of the visitors as a deflected Whalley cross-shot flew agonizingly ahead of John-Lewis’s grasp at the far post.

Home skipper Tommy Rowe sent an awkward header over the top and, on the stroke of half-time, Shrews defender Waterfall powerfully met a Whalley corner but his goalbound effort was cleared.

Donny were the better side at the beginning of the first period and man in the middle Drysdale appeared to even things up by denying Wilks a spot-kick after he had turned Ryan Haynes and Alex Gilliead inside out but tumbled under from Anthony Grant.

Clear Shrewsbury attacks were few and far between but Greg Docherty could not take advantage of an opening in the box before John-Lewis’s sharp left-footed strike brought the best from Marko Marosi down to his right.

The Slovakian keeper was then sharp to parry Gilliead’s fierce cross and recovered superbly to smother John-Lewis’s hammered rebound.

Askey’s men had the hosts penned in as the game entered its final quarter but a decisive chance would not fall their way.

The Town boss rolled the dice 15 minutes before the end and sent on summer recruit from Mansfield Lee Angol for just his second appearance in blue and amber.

It was one-way traffic at the Keepmoat as the away side attacked the visiting supporters. Whalley’s goalbound rocket was blocked before Docherty drew a near post save from Marosi.

From the resulting corner new-boy Angol was just unable to connect with his head.

It was not quite falling for improving Town but they were given a fine reception by 331 travelling Salopians who were impressed with their endeavour.

But the desperate search for a first win goes on with Salop requiring a ruthless streak in the final third.

Teams

Doncaster Rovers (4-3-3):

Marosi; Mason, Wright (Anderson, 85), Butler, Andrew; Whiteman, Rowe © (Blair, 71), Kane; Coppinger (Taylor, 64), Marquis, Wilks.

Subs not used: Lawlor (gk), Lund, Beestin, May.

Shrewsbury Town (4-3-3):

Subs not used: Arnold (gk), Beckles, Okenabirhie, Loft, Amadi-Holloway, Barnett.

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Attendance: 6,943 (331 Shrewsbury fans)