Moore refuses to make predictions about Doncaster

Posted Sunday, September 22, 2019 by PA

Darren Moore’s Doncaster side might have enjoyed a superb start to the season but he is in no mood to make predictions about where they will finish this season.

A 2-0 triumph over an on-form Peterborough United saw Rovers bounce back from a first league defeat of the campaign in some style, with first-half goals from James Coppinger and Kieran Sadlier proving gthe difference.

Despite being appointed with a mandate of challenging for a top-six finish in League One, Moore has refused to even suggest his side may be capable of achieving that, in spite of the form they have shown so far.

“It’s been a good solid start to the season,” the Rovers boss said.

“We keep working and the reason I keep saying that is we’re a relatively new team. There’s only two players on the pitch from last season. It’s a new team.

“Let’s have a look at it as the season goes on and see where we are. At the moment, the message is clear – it’s about performances.

“It’s about getting those performances, both individually and collectively – and it’s not going to change. I’ve got to leave other people to do that talking, that noise.

“For me, I can only echo what has been implemented inside the club going forward.”

Doncaster were deserved winners of their latest encounter with former boss Darren Ferguson and his Peterborough side that were unbeaten in their previous seven matches.

Moore had been confident his side would have no hangover from the midweek defeat to Blackpool and was fully justified in that belief.

He added: “We’re pleased, it’s a good afternoon’s work. As we know they’re a good team and, as I said in the week, we’d have to be at our best to get any type of a result and I thought the players were that.

“They worked extremely hard and took their chances when they came. Towards the end I thought they battled well, put their bodies on the line and blocked shots and crosses. If one man was beaten there was another man there to back him up. I was really pleased with the afternoon’s work.”

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson pledged to hold an inquest into a performance he declared unrecognisable from recent showings by his side.

Posh had scored 22 goals in their previous seven matches but struggled for opportunities in a flat performance at Doncaster.

And Ferguson was far from pleased with the manner of the result.

“It was an almost unrecognisable performance, particularly in the first half,” he said.

“We were miles away. It was a really poor team performance. I need to look at it and get the reasons why. We did not get anywhere near them, we didn’t lay a glove on them.

“It’s a hard one to explain because stuff we’d worked on didn’t happen and it almost looked like we had no energy about us.

“We were nowhere near brave enough on the ball and all in all, it was just a really poor performance. Whatever the reasons are, we have to find a solution to that.

“It surprised me and I shouldn’t be surprised any more really but it was certainly one that was a million miles away from what we’ve been getting.”