Doncaster Rovers 1 - 2 Walsall: Sean O'Driscoll enjoys return to Doncaster as Walsall leave with three points

Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2016 by PA

Walsall bounced back from an FA Cup drubbing at Reading to beat Doncaster 2-1 and climb back into the top two as visiting boss Sean O'Driscoll celebrated victory on his return to the Keepmoat Stadium.

Goals from Sam Mantom and Andy Taylor in the space of four second-half minutes did the damage and although Liam Mandeville pulled one back for Rovers late on, the Saddlers were not going to be denied.

The woodwork thwarted Rovers centre-half Aaron Taylor-Sinclair after 26 minutes when he met James Coppinger's corner with a first-time effort that bounced against the top of the bar.

Andy Williams teed up Harry Middleton, whose shot was saved by Craig MacGillivray, and seconds later Williams curled one narrowly wide.

The Saddlers went close early in the second half when Paul Downing headed Milan Lalkovic's corner against the goal frame and away to safety.

Walsall took the lead after an hour as Mantom burst through a couple of challenges and slammed a low shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Taylor doubled the advantage four minutes later. Romaine Sawyers brilliantly tricked his way past two defenders and laid the ball across the area, where it fell to Taylor, whose deflected effort beat debut goalkeeper Chris Neal.

Sub Mandeville gave Rovers hope with an excellent 80th-minute goal, curling home from just outside the box, before stinging the palms of MacGillivray as the visitors hung on.