Rampant Rovers ease past Rochdale

Doncaster started 2019 in fine style as they thumped Rochdale 5-0 to power back into League One’s top six.

First half goals from Alfie May, Ali Crawford and John Marquis set Doncaster on their way.

Marquis doubled his tally in the second half to move onto 18 goals for the season, with James Coppinger adding a fifth.

May scored after 40 seconds when he looped in a header from Mallik Wilks’ cross.

Rovers were rampant with Wilks and Marquis both drawing superb saves from Magnus Norman.

They doubled their advantage on 23 minutes when Crawford smashed in a free kick from a tight angle.

Rochdale could barely get out of their own half as Doncaster pushed on, grabbing a third goal after 34 minutes when Marquis planted in a header to cap a superb free-kick routine.

The tempo dipped after the break but Doncaster continued to dominate.

Marquis extended the lead on 75 minutes, drilling a shot from 25 yards which Norman could not hold.

And Coppinger wrapped up the win with eight minutes to go, producing a diving header from a Matty Blair cross.