sport

CLARKE ANSWERS CRITICS

Clarke - match-winner.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws hopes that Leon Clarke's match-winning display against Doncaster will help to silence critics of the maligned striker.

Clarke headed in the only goal of the game three minutes before the break when he broke free from his marker to head in Etienne Esajas' splendid free-kick delivery from close range.

It was the 23-year-old's second goal in as many games and capped a bustling display that Laws hopes will help win over the section of Hillsborough fans who remain unconvinced by the former Wolves man's talents.

"I am delighted for Leon Clarke who has come in for a lot of criticism from the supporters over a season or so," said Laws who saw his side end a five-game losing streak and move up to 10th in the Coca-Cola Championship table.

"A week is a long time in football. He's got himself a couple of goals his confidence is getting higher and he is justifying he is in the front line."

Laws had handed Clarke his third consecutive league start, and just his fourth of the season, and while the Owls boss admitted his striker's display was still littered with moments to frustrate he backed him to improve with more games under his belt.

Laws said: "Leon's got a lot of tools in the box, sometimes he just doesn't open the box. I think he's even swallowed the key sometimes.

"But the fact is when he does get in the groove there is no doubt he can score a goal.

"He's powerful, he's strong, he's got pace. He has got all the attributes and when it does happen for him it comes in a rush and at the moment he's in that purple patch.

"Hopefully he can now start to show that to everyone else."

After an uninspiring opening half the game was stimulated by Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll's decision to send on strike duo Lewis Guy and James Hayter after the break.

The match turned into an open affair with Rovers more intent, and equipped, to attack their hosts.

Guy brushed the crossbar with a prodded close-range effort that served as Doncaster's best chance, but Rovers' poor form in front of goal, they have scored a league worst seven goals this season, prevented an equaliser.

"In the end we were riding our luck," Laws admitted. "We thought at half-time they would look to throw their strikers on and it changed the game, the fact that they were more progressive and getting more into our half.

"We had to dig in deep, but that is the important thing that we can dig in deep."

O'Driscoll bemoaned his side's inability to find an equaliser as they sunk to a seventh consecutive away defeat and 12th game without victory.

"It's been the story of our season so far," he said. "I don't want to dwell on it any more than that.

"I've been saying that for the past 11 weeks, but it is difficult to keep on saying that. We've maintained our level of performance which is pleasing, but the same old problems have occurred where we've failed to defend a set piece as well as creating chances and not being able to score them.

"So we've not been able to solve two major aspects of the game."

He added: "We haven't defended. You can't give people free headers inside the six-yard box whether it is the Championship or a Sunday-morning game."