McCann calls on Doncaster to develop ruthless streak after win over Scunthorpe

Posted Wednesday, August 15, 2018 by PA

Doncaster boss Grant McCann challenged his side to develop a ruthless streak after watching them book a place in the second round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of rivals Scunthorpe.

A goal in each half from Mallik Wilks and Danny Andrew set Rovers on the road to victory, with John Marquis having a late penalty saved before Stephen Humphrys curled in a consolation for the Iron.

While the margin of victory may have only been one goal, Doncaster were the dominant side.

“It should have been six or seven and I told the boys that after, I’m not going to let up until we find that ruthless edge,” said McCann, whose side have won all three of their matches this term.

“We still haven’t got it, we’re miles away really.

“Although we’ve won and scored eight goals in three games, I want more. We should have had more tonight.

“All in all I thought the whole performance was outstanding and there were some top class individual displays as well.

“The full-backs were excellent. I’ve probably been critical of them and demanded more, but I think they gave me that tonight.

“We controlled it from start to finish and Scunthorpe couldn’t live with some of our play, definitely in the second half.

“The support was excellent and I said to the lads that I wanted them to send the 2,000 or so fans home happy. I thought we were very good.”

Wilks had already gone close on a couple of occasions when he drilled Rovers in front in the 36th minute, firing low past Scunthorpe stopper Rory Watson after being teed up by Marquis in the penalty area.

There was a touch of fortune about the second goal, which saw full-backs Niall Mason and Andrew combine, with the latter’s effort looping over the keeper and dropping under the bar 11 minutes into the second period, but not about the result.

Marquis was denied by Watson from the spot in the closing stages, after being tripped in the penalty area, but the miss never looked like being costly, despite substitute Humphrys curling home from range in stoppage time.

Iron boss Nick Daws had no complaints about the result.

He said: “It was a deserved defeat. Doncaster were excellent – they got the detail in their play absolutely right and we didn’t.

“At times in the first half, when we were still in the game, I thought we were just a poor decision or a sloppy pass away from perhaps getting some opportunities at goal and that’s the bit we have to look at.

“There were some positive performances and I thought we showed effort and desire, but there was a lack of understanding in how to deal with a side who moved the ball in a number of ways so well.

“We have to credit the opposition for that.”