Fejiri Okenabirhie could boost Doncaster Rovers as they go back to basics defensively

Rovers ended a three-match losing streak at home to Hull City at the weekend but they did it the hard way, conceding three first-half goals before fighting back to claim a draw with James Coppinger's dramatic stoppage-time free-kick.

Doncaster manager Darren Moore, who hopes to have striker Fejiri Okenabirhie back from injury at Bloomfield Road, was unhappy that two of the goals conceded came from crossed free-kicks – not only because of the way his team dealt with the deliveries, but the fact they conceded them in the first place.

“They were goals that were avoidable so we need to readdress those concerns and look at the positional sense when the cross comes into the box but also we look at the needless free-kicks we gave away on two occasions,” he said. “They were really avoidable. All round there's bits and pieces to look at.

“Whenever there's a goal conceded we look at things we can improve and decision-making at the time because we don't really want to see goals going in like that against us.

“Boys were trying too hard when they just needed a bit of composure and to stand on their feet and make the opposition beat them as opposed to giving away a needless free-kick that allows the opposition to put a ball into your area.

“Having said that, after the free-kick is conceded we need to try and get some contact on the ball and that's evaded us in recent weeks because they have been really good at that this season.

“It just goes to show you've got to work on all areas of your game. An area where you think you're strongest at can sometimes turn around and be a weakness so it's continual work and we'll look at them again.”

An ankle injury has kept 11-goal Okenabirhie out of the last three matches, but Moore is hopeful he will be fit to face the Tangerines.

“We'll check on Fej today and just make sure he's okay,” he said before Monday's training session. If we feel he's okay and he's able, he'll be added to the squad.

“It seems everybody (who played on Saturday) has come through.”

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