Doncaster Rovers made a winning start to life in League One with a convincing victory at Walsall.

Rovers, relegated from the Championship last season, took the lead when Billy Paynter teed up strike partner Chris Brown to slot home.

David Cotterill doubled the lead with a magnificent chip from near the halfway line that caught Saddlers keeper David Grof off guard.

Rovers' victory was sealed when Kyle Bennett cut inside to drive home.

Walsall substitute Febian Brandy, one of seven players making their Saddlers league debut, lasted just seven minutes before having to be subbed himself with a hamstring injury.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Doncaster Rovers manager Dean Saunders told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We've scored three great goals and could have had a few more.

"I'm pleased really, a bit of quality at the end of the day and a good start for us.

"We knew they were a good football team and we knew they would have a lot of possession.

"So we let them have have it in their own half and tried to do them on the break, which is what we've done."

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Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Walsall

  • 01 Grof
  • 04 Butler
  • 05 Holden
  • 14 Purkiss
  • 25 Chambers
  • 06 Featherstone
  • 07 Chambers
  • 08 Cuvelier
  • 11 Hemmings (Baxendale - 62' )
  • 09 Grigg
  • 10 Paterson (Brandy - 61' )

Substitutes

  • 23 Walker
  • 20 Benning
  • 22 Downing
  • 16 Jones
  • 24 Baxendale
  • 12 Brandy (Bowerman - 68' )
  • 17 Bowerman

Doncaster Rovers

  • 33 Woods
  • 02 Quinn
  • 05 Jones Booked
  • 14 Spurr
  • 16 McCombe
  • 06 Syers
  • 07 Woods
  • 11 Cotterill Booked
  • 08 Paynter (Harper - 61' )
  • 09 Brown Booked (Blake - 81' )
  • 23 Bennett (Coppinger - 71' )

Substitutes

  • 03 Husband
  • 13 Maxted
  • 20 Harper
  • 26 Coppinger
  • 10 Blake
Ref: Mark Heywood
Att: 4,205

Match Stats

Shots

8 7

On target

4 4

Corners

9 3

Fouls

5 5

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:08 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:23

Paul Quinn fouled by James Baxendale, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Gary Woods.

83:33

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tommy Spurr on Ben Purkiss. Direct free kick taken by Dean Holden.

82:27

George Bowerman takes a shot. Save made by Gary Woods.

80:20 Substitution

Substitution Robbie Blake on for Chris Brown.

80:20

Jamie McCombe fouled by Will Grigg, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie McCombe restarts play with the free kick.

78:00

The ball is crossed by James Coppinger, Chris Brown takes a shot. Save by David Grof.

73:56

Corner from left by-line taken by Florent Cuvelier.

70:08 Substitution

Substitution James Coppinger is brought on as a substitute for Kyle Bennett.

69:03

Free kick awarded for a foul by Martin Woods on James Baxendale. Free kick taken by Florent Cuvelier.

67:40 Substitution

Substitution George Bowerman replaces Febian Brandy.

67:40 Substitution

Substitution George Bowerman joins the action as a substitute, replacing Febian Brandy.

64:37

Paul Quinn challenges James Baxendale unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Featherstone.

63:26

Dean Holden takes a shot.

61:52

David Cotterill fouled by Will Grigg, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Quinn.

61:10 Substitution

Substitution James Baxendale comes on in place of Ashley Hemmings.

60:52 Substitution

Substitution Febian Brandy joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jamie Paterson.

60:01 Substitution

Substitution Billy Paynter goes off and James Harper comes on.

58:33

James Chambers gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Cotterill. Direct free kick taken by Martin Woods.

56:56

Adam Chambers takes a shot. Blocked by Gary Woods.

56:56

Adam Chambers takes a shot. Gary Woods gets a block in.

55:05 Goal scored

Goal - Kyle Bennett - Walsall 0 - 3 Doncaster Kyle Bennett fires in a goal from outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Walsall 0-3 Doncaster.

54:13 Booking

Booking The referee books David Cotterill for unsporting behaviour.

52:49

Short corner taken by Ashley Hemmings.

51:14

Inswinging corner taken by Jamie Paterson.

49:41

Florent Cuvelier produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +2:06 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +1:33

The ball is swung over by Ben Purkiss,

40:43

Corner taken by Jamie Paterson. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Ashley Hemmings.

40:43 Booking

Booking Chris Brown receives a yellow card.

40:21

Chris Brown gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nicky Featherstone.

39:25

Rob Jones fouled by Florent Cuvelier, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tommy Spurr.

38:50

Effort on goal by David Syers from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

37:51

Rob Jones challenges Will Grigg unfairly and gives away a free kick. Florent Cuvelier has an effort at goal. Gary Woods gets a block in.

14:01

Ashley Hemmings takes a short corner.

34:38

Short corner worked by David Cotterill.

31:28

The ball is sent over by David Cotterill.

30:09

Corner taken by David Cotterill, Header by Rob Jones from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

29:54

Short corner taken by Jamie Paterson.

27:49

Ashley Hemmings takes a short corner.

25:43 Goal scored

Goal - David Cotterill - Walsall 0 - 2 Doncaster David Cotterill gets on the score sheet with a goal from long range high into the middle of the goal. Walsall 0-2 Doncaster.

23:12

Jamie Paterson takes a short corner.

22:49

Short corner worked by Jamie Paterson.

16:38

Jamie Paterson takes a shot. Gary Woods gets a block in.

14:28

The ball is crossed by Jamie Paterson, blocked by Gary Woods.

13:12

Florent Cuvelier has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.

11:59

The assistant referee flags for offside against Chris Brown. David Grof takes the indirect free kick.

9:12

Corner taken right-footed by Ashley Hemmings. Ashley Hemmings has a drilled shot. Blocked by Rob Jones.

11:01

Ashley Hemmings decides to take the corner short.

9:12

David Syers takes the inswinging corner, Ashley Hemmings takes a shot. Blocked by Rob Jones.

4:56

Assist by Tommy Spurr.

4:56 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Brown - Walsall 0 - 1 Doncaster Chris Brown gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Walsall 0-1 Doncaster.

3:51 Booking

Booking Rob Jones goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

1:11

Billy Paynter takes a shot.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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