Match ends, Doncaster Rovers 0, Blackburn Rovers 1.
DoncasterDoncaster Rovers0BlackburnBlackburn Rovers1
Blackburn Rovers sealed promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt after a narrow victory at Doncaster Rovers.
Captain Charlie Mulgrew's 14th league goal of the season was enough to seal the win for the visitors.
The 32-year-old centre-back glanced in Bradley Dack's left-wing corner with 10 minutes remaining.
Rovers remain second in League One but are one point behind leaders Wigan with two games of the campaign remaining.
Rovers return
Rovers have bounced straight back to the Championship under Tony Mowbray, who failed to prevent their slide into the third tier last May as they were relegated on goal difference.
After two defeats in their opening two league games, the former Celtic and Middlesbrough boss has made Blackburn's first campaign at this level since 1979-80 look straightforward.
The Ewood Park side have lost just once in the league since mid-October, with unbeaten runs of 18 and 14 matches sandwiching a defeat at Plymouth at the start of February.
Bradley Dack's 18 goals from midfield saw him crowned as the EFL's League One Player of the Season, while 14-goal striker Danny Graham and defenders Amari'i Bell and Charlie Mulgrew joined him in the PFA's Team of the Season for League One.
Rovers still have a chance of pipping Wigan to the title, but Mowbray's long-term challenge will be establishing the former Premier League champions as a second-tier club once again.
Line-ups
Doncaster
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 13Marosi
- 2AlcockSubstituted forKongoloat 84'minutes
- 5Baudry
- 6Butler
- 8Mason
- 12Whiteman
- 17Blair
- 16Houghton
- 26CoppingerSubstituted forMcCulloughat 73'minutes
- 9MarquisBooked at 79mins
- 22BeestinSubstituted forWilliamsat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Lawlor
- 4McCullough
- 7Kongolo
- 11Williams
- 18Anderson
- 19May
- 24Boyle
Blackburn
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Raya
- 31Bennett
- 26Lenihan
- 14MulgrewBooked at 46mins
- 3Williams
- 29Evans
- 6Smallwood
- 18A ArmstrongSubstituted forAntonssonat 79'minutes
- 23Dack
- 32ConwayBooked at 55minsSubstituted forPayneat 75'minutes
- 10GrahamSubstituted forSamuelat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Samuel
- 11Whittingham
- 13Leutwiler
- 17Bell
- 19Payne
- 20Antonsson
- 25Downing
- Referee:
- Eddie Ilderton
- Attendance:
- 10,443
Match Stats
Home TeamDoncasterAway TeamBlackburn
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away11
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away15
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Doncaster Rovers 0, Blackburn Rovers 1.
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Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Andy Butler.
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Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Matty Blair.
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Foul by Niall Mason (Doncaster Rovers).
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Richard Smallwood (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Mathieu Baudry (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dominic Samuel (Blackburn Rovers).
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Attempt saved. Niall Mason (Doncaster Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Corner, Doncaster Rovers. Conceded by Marcus Antonsson.
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Foul by John Marquis (Doncaster Rovers).
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Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Mathieu Baudry (Doncaster Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Dominic Samuel (Blackburn Rovers).
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Substitution
Substitution, Doncaster Rovers. Rodney Kongolo replaces Craig Alcock.
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Goal!
Goal! Doncaster Rovers 0, Blackburn Rovers 1. Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers) header from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Bradley Dack following a corner.
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Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Andy Butler.
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Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Marcus Antonsson replaces Adam Armstrong.
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Booking
John Marquis (Doncaster Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by John Marquis (Doncaster Rovers).
Comments
Join the conversation
I wasn't sure about Mobray but everything seems to have clucked into place and he has turned out to be quite a coop. Boy, do I feel like a chicken tonight.
Good luck Shrewsbury, if only 3 could have been promoted automatically. I hope you can do it in the playoffs.
Regardless of past spending this is a great achievement by a great club that’s place is in the premier league good luck Blackburn players and supporters stick with Tony Mowbray
However being an Aberdeen fan I needed a bit whilst following the league down south.
Still my favourite English side however, esp as they've had some Scots lads through the years, Hendry,Gallagher,Dickov now Mulgrew etc.
Fans have suffered & deserve this
We perhaps, unfairly, are labelled as big spenders under Jack walker. Yes, we signed some great players etc. But net spend there were clubs around at the time, Leeds, man utd, Liverpool etc. who were spending more than we ever could.
When you see the poor teams this season at the foot of the championship Blackburn getting relegated with 51 points was surely a sign of things to come
And it was-great effort by a proper football manager with bags of experience, They look a very decent team who should go well next season
You've been like a breath of fresh air to our club after the last few years of turmoil.
Also, good luck in the play offs Shrewsbury. You made us battle all the way.
No matter what happens next season TM will always be remembered as a Blackburn legend. There is a connection between the players, club, manager and supporters which has been missing for too long.
I will almost miss Div3!
Blackburn deserve some good news and they deserve to be back on top.
Rovers have won the FA Cup 6 times , the first division / premier league 2 times ( might be 3 ) and the league cup once
North End 2 first division titles and 2 FA cups .
Both teams have a rich history but Rovers more honours .
Having said that I’m sure we’ll all agree that the Preston plumber , Tom Finney is the greatest ever English player .