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Woods comes up with goods
DONCASTER Rovers equalled their best start to a Championship campaign with a 3-1 win over Hull City at the Keepmoat Stadium to make it seven points from their first four league games.
Martin Woods got Rovers off to a flying start with a goal after less than 90 seconds.
Record signing Billy Sharp and James Coppinger - both of whom were doubtful in midweek - added futher goals after the Tigers had drawn level on nine minutes.
Victory could have come at a price, however, with centre-back Adam Lockwood (leg injury) and skipper Brian Stock (hamstring) both failing to finish the game.
Should Stock's injury prove to be more than a tightening of the muscle, it would rule him out of Wales's two European Championship qualifiers.
Rovers regained the lead with a 43rd minute penalty.
"I've not seen the DVD yet, but there was definitely a hand in there," said Rovers number two Richard O'Kelly, talking about the penalty decision.
"It was a great time to score and to come in at 2-1 gave everyone a lift.
"We spoke at half-time about starting the second half at a high tempo and being organised, and I though that we did that.
"We've been disappointed with our second half performances in games this season, but I thought we played a lot better today.
"When we were on top at Cardiff last week we didn't score.
"When Cardiff were on top, through either our own failings or good play on their part, we didn't stop them scoring.
"When we weren't so good today we stopped them from scoring and that's what you look for in a team."
In addition to scoring his first goal of the season, and also going close on another couple of occasions, Woods also had a hand in the other two goals.
"I thought Martin Woods was excellent today," said O'Kelly.
"He looked mobile and got around the pitch well and was always a threat."
The game marked the return of attacking midfielder John Oster following a close-season knee operation.
"John also missed pre-season last year and started the season as though he had never been away," said O'Kelly.
"What you have to look at is the work done by the physiotherapy department and our fitness and conditioning coach which gets injured players to a level of fitness where they can perform like that.
"You wouldn't think that that was John's first game of the season. But he has always been a naturally fit player.
"He tired later on, as you would expect, but I was pleased with how he played for over an hour.
"Not only is John a good player, but he also affects other people around him and it was good to have him back."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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