Doncaster 1 Peterborough 2: Ferguson left devastated by home defeat

Rovers’ winless streak extended to 12 matches, with Posh defender Ricardo Santos - who made a big error for the hosts’ opener - turning from villain to hero, netting a rebound after Aaron Williams’s header hit the post, with keeper Thorsten Stuckmann hopelessly stranded out of goal.

The goal was Rovers’ fifth successive loss and ninth in their past ten league outings, with Posh hitting back after going behind early on to a James Coppinger goal thanks to strikes from Williams and Santos, his first professional goal.

Ferguson said: “The second half was a very positive performance and I would have been disappointed with a draw and you can imagine what the dressing room is like.

“It is a devastating result for us, given the manner in which we played.

“But both goals were awful goals to lose. But now is not the time to be criticising people, it is just not the right thing to do.

“I would think that most people would agree that ninety per cent of the time you get a performance like that in the second half, you win the game.

“That’s what we have got to look at. A lot of people will now be thinking: ‘We could be doomed’ because it looks like it is going that way. But I have to take the positives out of the game.”

Ferguson confirmed that loanees Lynden Gooch and Conor Grant have returned to their parent clubs due to injury and also revealed that Curtis Main has elected to stay on loan at relegation rivals Oldham Athletic and not return to Rovers - with the Scot describing the situation as ‘unfortunate.’

The Rovers chief is working on bringing in a loan striker before Thursday’s emergency loan deadline.