Doncaster Rovers v Crystal Palace 25/04/09

Palace run out 2-0 losers, having hit the woodwork three times in the first half. Rovers were lucky to nick the goal just before the break, but as the second half progressed they started to control the game and it was only a matter of time before they sealed the game with their second goal.

Palace will be back here next season, against a team who like to play the ball on the floor and have stuck by their principles to confirm their place in the Championship after their play-off victory over Leeds saw them promoted last year.

Join us next Sunday for the last game of the season, at home to Sheffield United - a game that Neil Warnock will want to win.

Full Time

91st min - Rovers Sub - Neil Sullivan OFF (to get a standing ovation) Gary Woods ON

3 mins of injury time

89th min - Wellens and Danns both booked. There has been a bit of niggle in the second half from both sides.

85th min - Rovers win a free-kick 25 yards out, as Dean Shiels is named the Man of The Match. Martin Woods strikes it, Speroni tips over as the ball was going in.

79th min - Lawrence plays in Stokes, who cuts in from the left but his low shot doesn't have enough curl on it and goes wide.

78th min - Rovers Sub - Dean Shiels OFF, Lewis Guy ON

76th min - Palace Sub - Rui Fonte OFF, Lee Hills ON

75th min - GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As Hill heads clear, Rovers pick the ball up and work it to Waide Fairhurst. He crosses from the right and James Hayter is there 10 yards out to smash the ball home. Rovers 2, Palace 0

74th min - Rovers win a corner after Clyne has to play the ball behind. Hill heads clear

72nd min - Rui Fonte shoots straight at the keeper from 20 yards. Routine save for Sullivan. But Rovers go up the other end and it's Keystone Cops defending in the Palace box, which only ends when Rovers shoot over. A let-off

71st min - Stokes puts the ball in the back of the net after a lovely flowing move started by Clyne, but the offside flag is up.

69th min - Palace Sub Shefki Kuqi OFF (he hasn't done much, and he's not happy at coming off), James Scowcroft ON

65th min - Clyne whips the ball in from the right, and Danns gets in at the near-post but side foots his volley over and injures himself in the process. But he'll be back on.

64th min - Rovers Sub - Kazenga Lua-Lua OFF (injured), Waide Fairhurst ON

59th minute - Palace Sub - Carle OFF, Kieron Cadogan ON Bit of a strange one as Carle was playing fine.

Crowd - 12,031 (988 from Palace)

52nd min - Shiels brings down Danns on the left hand touchline. Stokes floats the ball over but it goes straight out. Palace are trying to get back into this game

51st min - Bit of handbags as Danns is on his knees over the ball. Ref calms matters down and gives a drop ball. Good reffing from Mr Taylor.

50th min - Rovers win a corner. Woods takes, but as the shot comes in the offside flag goes up. Rovers fans are singing now.

Palace kick-off the second half. No changes.

45th min - GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As the injury time board goes up, Rovers are tucking the ball into the net courtesy of Dean Shiels. Played in by Wellens, he is through on goal and puts the ball under Speroni from close range. Tough luck on Palace as they have had the better chances. Join us after the break. Rovers 1, Palace 0

37th min - Palace go close again, Carle firing across the face of goal with Sullivan beaten. Palace have to score soon, the amount of chances they have had.

35th min - lovely piece of skill by Carle frees Danns, but the move comes to nothing, Sullivan saving the shot. Rovers go down the other end and Lawrence makes a perfect sliding tackle on Roberts as he gets into the Palace box.

30th min - Lawrence fouls Lua-Lua just outside the box on the left flank. WOods floats the ball in and Palace clear behind for a corner. Ertl clears that one.

26th min - Stokes gets down the left and curls a lovely shot around Sullivan, but although it beats the 'keeper it doesn't beat the post, and hits the outside of it and bounces off to safety.

24th min - Lua-Lua gets ahead of Clyne and into the box. Clyne is behind Lua-Lua and the Rovers' striker goes down in the box. Massive shout for a penalty from the Donny faithful, but the ref waves play-on.

21st min - Palace go very close twice. Carle floats the ball in and Ertl's header slams against Sullivan's left post, the ball is cleared but Danns is allowed to run forward and his low shot hits the foot of Sullivan's right post. The Eagles are getting close to the opening goal.

17th min - Palace keep the ball up the Rover's end, and Danns' shot is deflected for another corner. Carle whips it in, Sullivan misses the ball when he comes to punch clear, but no-one is at the far-post to turn the ball home and it runs out.

16th min - Palace win their first corner of the match. Carle to take, Rovers clear.

14th min - A great clearance from McCarthy who clears the stadium with his hoof. Good work, sir. Doesn't happen often enough these days.

12th min - Shiels has his shot blocked by McCarthy, but Woods' corner is straight to Speroni

9th min - Lua-Lua wins a dubious corner off Clyne. Woods takes, finds it's way to Spicer who slices his volley over from inside the area.

8th min - Kazenga Lua-Lua digs out a curling shot - but it's just wide. Rovers are getting closer as Palace fans sing about Charlton fans "not exactly laughing now"...

5th min - The ball falls to Clint Hill 30 yards out, he has time for the shot but puts it well over.

2nd min - James Hayter gets forward for Rovers but his shot is very high and very wide.

Rovers kick-off towards the Case Construction End, where the Palace fans are housed.

The teams are on the pitch - Palace are all in white, whilst Rovers are wearing green and white hoops, similar to Celtic, in honour of the NSPCC - today's charity of honour.

Hello and welcome to the Keepmoat Stadium for today's Championship clash between Doncaster Rovers and Crystal Palace.

Both teams are solidly mid-table, Rovers having moved away from their early season relegation battle and Palace having long since dropped out of the play-off place chase.

Neil Warnock names Speroni in goal, with Clint Hill his captain, playing at left-back. Matt Lawrence and Patrick McCarthy are the centre-backs, with Nathaniel Clyne at left-back. Johannes Ertl once again starts in the defensive midfield slot with Shaun Derry out injured. Nick Carle and Neil Danns slot into midfield, with Anthony Stokes, Rui Fonte and Shefki Kuqi the forward three.

Jose Fonte, James Comeley, Lee Hills and Kieron Cadogan warm the bench, as does James Scowcroft - presumably to remind people that he still exists and is available for transfer.

Rovers line-up with ex-Palace 'keeper Neil Sullivan in goal.

Enjoy the game!