McCann left furious by ref calls as Donny held

By Gwyn Griffiths

CREWE ALEX’ 1

O’Riordan 10

CREWE: Marschall 7, O’Riordan 8 (Long 69, 6), Knight-Label 8, Williams 7, Billington 7, Lowery 6, Tabiner 7 (Cooney 81, 6), Conway 7, Thomas 6, Holicek 7, Hemmings 7 (Bogle 71, 6). Subs not used: Booth, Sanders, Lankester, Powell.

DONCASTER R 1

Bailey 75

DONCASTER: Sharman-Lowe 8, Nixon 6 (Ennis 65, 6), Wood 6 (Kelly 64, 6), Anderson 7, Senior 7, Bailey 8, Broadbent 7, Molyneux 7, Clifton 7 (Sbarra 64, 6), Gibson 6 (Ironside 46, 6), Street 6 (Sharp 64, 7). Subs not used: Lawlor, Crew.

Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Matt Corlett 4/10

GRANT McCann was raging about refereeing decisions which the Doncaster boss claimed cost his side victory at Crewe.

Owen Bailey’s 75th-minute set-piece header cancelled out Connor O’Riordan’s early goal for Crewe and salvaged a point for Rovers who were below par in the first half at Gresty Road.

O’Riordan’s early strike, bundled in after a free-kick was laid back by Zac Williams, should have been ruled out for a handball against the centre-half according to McCann, who also claimed his side were denied two “stonewall penalties”.

“There were three big moments in the game which the officials have got wrong and we’ve come away with a point from a agame we should have won,” McCann said.

“We’ve not had the rub of the green and it’s another phone call I will be making as the officiating wasn’t acceptable. O’Riordan handles the ball and I don’t know how we’ve not got two penalties.”

After O’Riordan’s early strike, Rob Street curled an effort a yard wide as Doncaster responded, but Rovers nearly fell further behind when Max Conway skipped past two defenders and delivered a cross which Kane Hemmings connected with a thumping header that Teddy Sharman-Lowe did

well to turn around. Hemmings drove a tame effort straight at Sharman-Lowe, who was busy again making saves either side of the break to deny Joel Tabiner.

Rovers spluttered into life as the second half wore on and sub Patrick Kelly hit a low drive a yard past the far post. And they were back on terms from another poorly-defended set-piece in the 75th minute with Bailey finding the net with a header from Luke Molyneux’s corner.

Two Rovers subs could have made a difference with Patrick Kelly going close with a shot across the face of goal, but penalty appeals were waved away when hewentdown under a challenge from Tom Lowery late on. Then Ethan Ennis hit a post with a deflected effort, but it would have been harsh on Crewe had they lost. Home boss Lee Bell said: “It was a decent game between two good teams. They were building pressure in the second half, but we had some really good opportunities to pick up a second and we probably deserved a second. The young lads at the back did well to cope with their forwards.

“We had a strong bench, which is good as it will give us options now it’s a nine-game season.”