KEVIN KEEGAN DID NOT experience the blustery showers at Vale Park yesterday afternoon — as John Ryan, the chairman audaciously trying to lure him back into management with Doncaster Rovers, would have hoped. Instead, the former England manager apparently opted to watch the televised encounter from the warmth of his settee.
He would have been impressed with Rovers’ resilience as they came from behind to steal victory in the final moments, turning in the kind of plucky performance Keegan holds in high regard. The visiting team also managed to keep the viewers entertained as they squandered and then scored respective second-half penalties. Lewis Guy was first felled by Mark Goodlad, the Port Vale goalkeeper, and justice was probably done when the keeper caught his supposed victim’s penalty.
Guy was upended again with less than five minutes left to play and this time Paul Heffernan, a substitute, fired home emphatically. Buoyed by his strike, Heffernan added his second in injury time.
Vale had dominated much of the match and took the lead shortly before half-time when Danny Whitaker headed in a cross from Leon Constantine. They created a multitude of opportunities and hit the woodwork twice. Jeff Smith’s long shot rattled the Doncaster bar early on and Constantine hit a post.
Martin Foyle’s side have lost two in a row after winning their opening five matches. “I’m gobsmacked,” he said. “I can’t believe we lost that. I just thought if we kept plugging away and putting big men forward we’d have got a second goal. The rain did make things difficult but they threw caution to the wind and won it.”
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After last week’s departure of Dave Penney, Rovers’ most successful manager to date, it was left to Mickey Walker, the director of football, to take temporary charge.
“I think I’ll retire tomorrow because I’ve got a 100 per cent record,” Walker said, although he has no intention of leaving quietly and is keen to prove himself as the leading candidate for the post.
“I’m working for this job, for my family and for the players,” he said. “I’ve worked with them on and off for seven years, now I’ve got the reigns and it’s an honour to be in charge. I’m ready to take it on. Send in Eriksson, send in Keegan, I’ll fight them all off.”
Ryan said after the match that the latter still hadn’t made contact, but added simply: “Stranger things have happened.”
Port Vale (4-4-2): M Goodlad — M McGregor, M Walsh (sub: R Walker, 71min), G Pilkington, C Miles — D Whitaker, D Sonner, P Harsley, J Smith — L Constantine, A Sodje (sub: S Moore, 81). Substitutes not used: J Anyon, J Talbot, M Husbands. Booked: Pilkington. FORM LLWWWW NEXT Blackpool (h)
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Doncaster Rovers (4-4-2): A Blayney — A Lockwood, S Roberts (sub: J Price, 46), G Lee, G Roberts — J Coppinger, P Green, J O’Connor, J Forte — M Di Piedi (sub: L Guy, 60), M McCammon (sub: P Heffernan 70). Substitutes not used: B Smith, S McDaid. FORM WDLDWL NEXT Gillingham (h)