Debutant fires Alex to win

Striker Lauri Dalla Valle scored five minutes into his Crewe Alexandra debut and Mathias Pogba added his sixth goal of the campaign as the visitors recorded their second away win of the season at Doncaster Rovers.

The Finland Under-21 international slotted in off an upright after collecting Chuks Aneke's excellent pass to earn his side an early lead. And that was added to during the second-half when Pogba headed in substitute Michael West's 71st minute corner.

Home striker Ian Hume threatened early with an effort wide of the mark. But Dalla Valle had no such problems moments later with a calm finish from virtually his first touch for his new club. Rovers later suffered a further blow when big defender Rob Jones was forced off after a collision with Abdul Osman, who fortunately recovered.

Doncaster keeper Gary Woods was next called into action by Osman and then skipper Luke Murphy's free-kick - in addition to Byron Moore from distance. Namesake Martin Woods knocked over at the other end, where Hume should probably have equalised just before the interval when dragging an opportunity wide.

Crewe brought on summer recruit West for Moore, who was struggling with a foot injury, at the start of the second-half. But it was Pogba almost forcing in Murphy's corner, while West wasn't too far away either from 25-yards.

However, their opponents went close to a leveller as Paul Keegan crashed against the crossbar after a block from keeper Alan Martin, who then reacted well to deny substitute Robbie Blake.

Defender Kelvin Mellor had a header ruled out from Murphy's free-kick for the visitors and Pogba struck straight at Woods until heading in West's corner to extend their lead.

Alex goalkeeper Martin later kept out both Hume and Billy Paynter at the other end but his side were always good value as their victory moved them further into mid-table.

Doncaster Rovers: Woods, Quinn, Husband, Jones (Martis 27), Spurr, Syers (Blake 46), Woods, Harper (Brown 75), Keegan, Paynter, Hume

subs (unused): Sullivan, Griffin, Woods, Clingan

Crewe Alexandra: Martin< Mellor, Davis, Ellis, Tootle, Murphy, Osman, Aneke (Robertson 90), Pogba, Moore (West 46), Dalla Valle

subs (unused): Phillips, Dugdale, Turton, Ray, Daniels

Goals: Dalla Valle (5), Pogba (71)

Ref: Duncan

Att: 5,411

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