Darren Moore delighted with Doncaster’s response to Bolton postponement

Posted Saturday, August 24, 2019 by PA

Darren Moore hailed the character of his Doncaster players after they shook off the upheaval of the late postponement of their midweek clash with Bolton to secure a 2-1 victory over Lincoln.

Rovers had completed their preparations for a scheduled trip to Bolton on Tuesday when they were told the Trotters had postponed the fixture on Monday afternoon.

While determined to use a partly free week to his advantage, Moore admitted it could have backfired on his side had they allowed the unexpected turmoil to carry on through the week.

But goals from Niall Ennis and Jon Taylor saw Doncaster secure a second consecutive win and remain unbeaten in League One this term.

“The news in midweek that the game was called off was disappointing for us because we were well set and drilled for the game,” Moore said.

“Mentally and physically we were ready for a game so to be told it was not happening was a downer for us.

“When you’ve got the momentum that we’ve got, you want the games to come thick and fast.

“We had to reset for this game and I’m delighted that we did.

“We didn’t allow what went on earlier in the week to impact on us and everyone saw another committed performance by the players.

“They showed commitment, desire, energy, workrate, mental capacity to manage to reset themselves with the game having gone to 1-1 and show that composure to go on and win the game.”

Ennis’ stunning 25-yard strike put Doncaster ahead but Jorge Grant equalised for Lincoln early in the second half.

Though the Imps enjoyed the better of the attacking play after the break, Rovers secured the win when Taylor slammed home after good work from fellow substitute Kazaiah Sterling.

And Moore believes beating a Lincoln side that have made an impressive start to the campaign will have made a significant statement to the rest of the division.

“I said it was going to take a joint effort today if we were to put down a marker by beating a team in Lincoln, a well-established, well-drilled football club,” he said.

“It’s almost like they are a juggernaut because they have seen wonderful success over the last two or three seasons.

“The boys stayed in the game and the two substitutes combined for the winning goal.”

Lincoln boss Danny Cowley believes the past week has delivered a strong message to his side about the tough nature of League One.

The Imps were unbeaten until Tuesday night when losing to MK Dons, and followed up with another defeat against Doncaster.

Cowley thought Lincoln were the stronger team in both games but takes no consolation from that fact with them coming away from both with nothing.

“I think we’ve seen the harsh realities of this division,” Cowley said.

“It’s a game at the start we had complete control of but credit to their player for scoring an unbelievable goal.

“We were disappointed with our response after the goal because it knocked us off our rhythm when it shouldn’t have because it was a moment of individual brilliance.

“But we got it back and with all due respect to Doncaster who have been a Championship and top end League One club, we got good control on the game.

“We scored and it made us significantly better.

“We’re disappointed because the variables that we can’t control had such an influence on the game.

“We must get better at that because we don’t want to be nearly men.

“The truth is that we’ve had two games against two good teams and been significantly better in both but come out with no points and that worries me.”