Darren Moore happy with Doncaster display on poor Prenton Park pitch

Posted Wednesday, February 05, 2020 by PA

Doncaster boss Darren Moore was satisfied with the performance level of his players after winning 3-0 at Tranmere.

A second-half double from debutant Jacob Ramsey and one from substitute Fejiri Okenabirhie did it for Donny as their relegation-threatened hosts stayed six points adrift of safety.

But Moore was pleased that his side, who are now three points off the League One play-off spots, had sussed out the notorious Prenton Park pitch before setting about dismantling their opponents.

He said: “I was pleased with the all-round team performance tonight and the response from Saturday.

“We knew it would be a tough task tonight but I just felt as the game wore on it would open up a bit and I thought at times our decisions on a very difficult night and a difficult surface were really good by the players. When the chances came we took the goals really well.

“We spoke pre-match about managing the conditions. The players did their job really well. Clean sheet, three points. I’m really pleased.

“For us it’s about trying to show that consistency in performances and maintain that high level. Tonight, we got the right performance and with the right performance you see the right result.

“The messages are clear there from my staff to the players and we’ll work again in training to maintain our standards for the game on Saturday.”

Tranmere were arguably the better side in the first half, with Andy Cook causing problems in the air on his first start since returning to the club, but Doncaster took control after the break with Ramsey side-footing home from Kieran Sadlier’s pullback.

The midfielder doubled their advantage 20 minutes later, heading home a cross from Niall Ennis, before a mistake by Tranmere centre-back Manny Monthe allowed Okenabirhie to sneak in and put the result beyond doubt.

Tranmere boss Micky Mellon said: “The team in the final third gave away far too many cheap goals in order to give ourselves any chance of getting anything out of the game.

“I thought the effort levels and generally the way that we knocked the ball around, especially in the first half, was fine.

“We started the second half getting a wee bit stretched and out-run at times. But they are the moments at these levels when you’ve got to be clean with your defending.

“That’s when the wrestle comes on and you’ve got to be good in that spell. We speak about that all of the time. We seem to give a goal away in that spell and then we’re chasing the game.

“We can see why they are up where they are because when it becomes who’s going to fold first, you can see that they’ve done this many times. They’re good at it and that’s why they’re where they are.”