Doncaster Rovers 0 Wolves 2 (Lopez 83, Chirewa 86 PEN)
Wolves ran out two-goal winners in their pre-season fixture away to Doncaster Rovers thanks to second half goals from Fer Lopez and Tawanda Chirewa.
The visitors created opportunities early on to take a lead at the Club Doncaster Sports Village, with Tom Edozie coming closest. The winger was played in on goal by a great Tommy Doyle through ball and after holding off the defender, Edozie got an effort on target, but it was palmed away by Tommy Simkin.
The visitors were producing some quick one-touch passing moves to get through Doncaster, but the final ball was letting Cesar Peixoto’s side down, with more chances coming from long distance, as Boubacar Traore’s powerful effort from the edge of the box cannoned off a defender, before Doyle’s free-kick was deflected wide.
During a first-half of few openings, Doncaster rarely tested Dan Bentley in the Wolves goal, with the defence comfortably dealing with a few free-kicks which were aimed into Old Gold box, but the stopper had to be alert following the interval to deny the visitors, after Hakeeb Adelakun twice got on goal, but the keeper was able to get down low to keep him out on both occasions.
After changing their entire outfield 10 at half time, Wolves had several opportunities of their own, but Simkin in the Doncaster goal was also standing strong, denying Chirewa from close range before pushing away Lopez’s effort. The Spaniard also set up Chirewa and Pedro Lima with neat through balls, but Simkin again was equal to their efforts.
Wolves finally made the breakthrough with less than 10 minutes remaining and the high press Peixoto wants from his players helped create the goal. After being closed down by three Old Gold shirts, Simkin’s loose pass was intercepted by Andre on the edge of the Doncaster box who slid a pass towards the run of Lopez and the forward made no mistake with his low finish.
The result was put beyond doubt moments later when another loose pass by Simkin was cut out by Andre and following a shot which was saved, Chirewa got to the ball first but was clipped by the keeper in the box to win his side a penalty. The Zimbabwean dusted himself off to take the spot kick and sent Simkin the wrong way from the spot.
Wolves | Bentley, Tchatchoua (Trippier 46), Djiga (Mosquera 46), Toti (Krejci 46), H Bueno (Sutherland 46), Abbey (Andre 46), Traore (Munetsi 46), Doyle (Lopez 46), Edozie (McLeod 46), R Gomes (Lima 46), Armstrong (Chirewa 46).
