Big match verdict: Tommy Rowe says Doncaster Rovers' confidence lifted for visit of Hull City

Nine goals scored in their last three outings – the latest being Saturday’s six-goal fest at the Keepmoat Stadium – highlighted Doncaster’s attacking panache.

Those who remember Fergie’s Peterborough sides, full of free-flowing football with the emphasis on attack, will certainly identify with Doncaster’s class of 2017.

Three times Rovers took the lead on Saturday, three times Blackpool pegged them back –twice within a minute of the hosts scoring.

Tommy Rowe deserved a goal for his long-range strike, but when the ball bounced down off the crossbar in the 37th minute, it hit goalkeeper Ryan Allsop on the back and rolled into the net.

The Keepmoat faithful were still celebrating when Sean Longstaff produced an even better strike from 30 yards to level.

Doncaster edged back in front in first-half stoppage-time, Andy Butler’s header blocked on the line, only for Matty Blair to divert the ball to John Marquis, who pounced from close range.

Blackpool took control after the break and it was no surprise when they equalised on 65 minutes with the goal of the match.

There looked to be little danger when Oliver Turton picked up the ball wide on the right, but he cut inside before curling an unstoppable shot beyond Ian Lawlor.

Ferguson introduced lively duo Alfie May and Rodney Kongolo, who combined for the former to net his third goal of the campaign on 75 minutes.

That should have seen Doncaster close up shop, but poor defending immediately allowed substitute Callum Cooke to poke home a third equaliser.

The positive for Rovers is they are unbeaten after their opening three games in League One, following promotion, but have failed to win at the Keepmoat Stadium after an opening day stalemate with Gillingham.

“It’s two points dropped for us, Gillingham was the same,” said midfielder Rowe. “All four games we have played this season, we seem to have been on top.

“You want to see the results immediately, but I know it’s only early. There’s a lot of positives to be taken this season, it’s a step up.

“In the first half, we stuck to our game-plan and the goals were exactly what we had been working on all week, with the patterns of play.

“It was disappointing towards the end, and there was a lack of concentration on all three goals we conceded.

“But, apart from the first 20 minutes of the second half, I thought we played quite well.”

Rowe, 28, thought he deserved a penalty after being squeezed out by two defenders in the second half as he looked to ghost through a gap but referee Rob Jones ignored appeals.

“It’s a difficult one for me because last season I got a few penalties,” he said.

“I have had to be careful. There was a gap (between two defenders) and the ref said I ran into them. But I ran through the gap, and they seemed to be blocking me off.

“I thought it was a penalty. I wouldn’t like to trick the ref to give me a penalty.”

Doncaster turn their attention tomorrow to League Cup action, when they host Championship side Hull City at the Keepmoat.

It took a 90th-minute goal for Nottingham Forest to knock Rovers out in the same competition 12 months ago, and Rowe is hoping to spring an upset.

“It’s a big game for us, something to get excited about,” he said. “Last year, we had Forest and put on a good performance against them, a Championship team.

“We have come on a long way since then, so we think we can win and will take the game to them.

“For me, it’s one where the family always want to come and watch, so I will be getting a lot of tickets.

“There should be a big support, from their fans, too, it’s quite a local game. We are really excited about it.”

Ferguson will give starts tomorrow to both May and Kongolo – who impressed as substitutes on Saturday – against Hull.

Striker May, 24, looks a rough diamond, with hints of Jamie Vardy in his pesky approach of playing on the last defender’s shoulder.

“He’ll certainly start on Tuesday night against Hull City, no question about that,” revealed Ferguson.

“Him and Kongolo gave us a bit of energy towards the end of the game and you hope that’s what your subs can do and they did it well.

“He gives us a lot of energy and he is very aggressive, which I do not think we had enough at certain points.

“I think we have started the season well. I think we probably deserved two more points than we have at the moment.

“When you’re three times in the lead, you would have to say it’s two points dropped.

“I thought we controlled large parts of the game so I’m slightly disappointed. I think we’ve got ourselves to blame for not winning the match.”

Doncaster Rovers: Lawlor, Mason, Wright, Butler, Andrew, Whiteman, Blair, Rowe, Coppinger, Marquis (Kongolo 72), Mandeville (May 59). Unused substitutes: Marosi, Alcock, Williams, Garratt, Ben Khemis.

Blackpool: Allsop, Aimson, Robertson, Tilt, Turton, Longstaff, Ryan, Anderton (Solomon-Otabor 68), Vassell (Osayi-Samuel 89), Cullen (Cooke 20). Unused substitutes: Williams, Taylor, Clayton, Delfouneso.

Referee: R Jones (Merseyside).