Fleetwood Town slipped to defeat in South Yorkshire on Saturday as they were beaten 3-0 by Doncaster Rovers.

Two goals from Tom Anderson and one from Alex Kiwomya saw Rovers side take all three points against the Cod Army. 

Town did have good chances, namely from Ashley Hunter and Jordy Hiwula, but were punished by a more clinical home side.

Uwe Rosler made three changes to the side that faced Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night, with Lewie Coyle, Wes Burns and Cian Bolger returning to the starting line up. Gethin Jones, Jack Sowerby and Nathan Pond all dropped out of the starting XI.

The match started quietly, but it was Fleetwood who had the first chance on goal as Burns headed Kyle Dempsey’s cross just wide of Marko Marosi’s net. Town then had another effort as Paddy Madden found Hunter in an inch of space on the left, which allowed him through on goal, but Hunter could only hit his shot just past the post.

However, it was to be the hosts who took the lead with their first chance of the match, as Kiwomya tucked the ball under Alex Cairns after a low cross from John Marquis.

Parity was almost restored little over a minute later as Hunter hit a first time strike from the edge of the area after a corner was cleared out to him. Again, he struck wide.

Town were fortunate not concede a second as Alfie Beeston beat Toumani Diagouraga on the edge of the box, but a great save from Alex Cairns was just enough to prevent the ball looping into the net, as sailed wide.

That was a let off for Fleetwood, but they weren’t to be so lucky next time around, as Doncaster doubled their lead. A free kick was well hit by Marquis, and parried by Cairns, but only as far as Anderson, who was first to the loose ball to make it 2-0.

It was almost 3-0 when Andy Boyle rose highest to connect to Marquis’ dead ball, but Fleetwood did well to clear the danger as the ball eventually ended up in Cairns’ hands.

Cairns was forced into another good save as another free kick found the diving head of Anderson but a fantastic stop prevented a third home goal, as the first half ended 2-0.

Rosler made two substitutions at the break, as he bolstered his strike force with the introductions of Conor McAleny and Hiwula.

Doncaster were straight out the blocks in the second half, as Beeston hit the post inside the area, as Fleetwood were slow to react.

This was only a temporary let off for the Cod Army though, as Anderson scored his second and Rovers’ third with a header from six yards out after a good cross from Tommy Rowe.

Two minutes late it could have been four, as Marquis bore down on goal on the counter, but he couldn’t fond the target from 25 yards.

Town’s first effort of the half came when good work from McAleny allowed Dempsey some space on the edge of the area, however he put just too much curl on his strike and couldn’t hit the mark.

Hunter then had a shot blocked in stoppage time that was perhaps going in, but that was about as good as it got as the referees whistle marked a Town defeat.

Doncaster XI: Marosi (GK), Alcock, McCullough, Mason, Marquis, Rowe, Anderson, Beestin (Blair), Kiwomya (May), Boyle. Coppinger ©.

Subs not used: Lawlor, Whiteman, Houghton, Kongolo, Baudry.

Fleetwood XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, O’Connor (McAleny), Eastham, Dempsey, Burns (Jones), Grant (Hiwula), Bolger ©, Diagouraga, Madden, Hunter.

Subs not used; Neal, Pond, Schwabl, Sowerby.

Referee: D Drysdale

Attendance: 7,013 (144 away)