Darren Moore praises Doncaster Rovers mentality after win

They took the lead through Jon Taylor after 32 minutes and clung to it against a visiting side who like to see plenty of the ball.

Manager Moore loved it, because he know there will be more games like this one, in heavy rain on a cold Tuesday night to come.

“Sometimes you have got to roll your sleeves up and get your just rewards for it,” he said.

“Tom Anderson and Butts (Andy Butler) are really singing their praises. It epitomises the squad in terms of what they've done mentally.

“It's not just all about putting your foot on the ball and playing.

“There's more games like that to come. We've not really been able to play much on the training ground and with the medical restrictions.

“When I look back at this week and then before that half the squad is at home.

“I really have to give the players credit.”

“It had to be a together performance.

“We had to go and get it, it was never going to be given to us.

“The concentration levels have got to be spot on. Ellery (Balcombe, Doncaster's goalkeeper) didn't work much because the defence in front of him blocked balls so credit to the team. We talked about sharing the load off the ball and we did that.

“It's a young team and what it tells them is sometimes you're not going to get a free-flowing game even though both teams wanted to play football, so there is another way of winning games. Sometimes it's a roll-your-sleeves up night. With hard work and determination you get your reward.”

There was praise too for midfielder Anthony Greaves, who made his first league start having come off the bench for his maiden League One outing from the bench in midweek.

“AJ can feel really pleased with his performance,” said Moore. “He's a young player that has been champing at the bit for some time.

“We sent him out earlier in the season to get some experience on loan and he's been waiting patiently for his chance. I told him just to be ready for his chance.

“I was looking at taking him off. Matt Smith hadn't played a lot of games (after recovering from Covid-19) and when we got to the 60-minute mark I thought goodness me but I got messages to him and he said he was okay. He was just starting to cramp up at the end.”

Moore also admitted late substitute Joe Wright should not have played, but the fact he did spoke volumes.

“It was a bit of a risk but it was because we needed the bodies,” he said. “We've got away with it hopefully.

“It's a little line I did cross which hopefully I won't have to again.

“Maybe it's a new thing for me as a manager in these times.”

Moore batted away a question about his future after being linked with the vacant job at Sheffield Wednesday.

“I know a lot of people are speaking about it but tonight my focus is on Doncaster Rovers and that's where it will remain,” he said. “I can't stop the speculation.”

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