Doncaster Rovers 1 Port Vale 2: Ferguson's warning fails to save Doncaster from defeat

His utterances about the importance of high standards in the wake of Doncaster Rovers’ lacklustre showing in a low-quality goalless stalemate on the Fylde coast clearly fell on deaf ears, given the fare on show in another disjointed and disappointing performance.

Ahead of the game, Ferguson also issued a warning that his side could ill afford many more hiccups at the Keepmoat if their outside hopes of a surprise tilt for the play-offs were to be kept alive.

On this evidence, the top-six looks a country mile away with Vale looking a much more healthier bet.

The Potteries outfit have inflicted some sobering moments upon Rovers in recent seasons and provided another unwelcome entry as they deservedly claimed victory, thanks to a goal in each half from striker AJ Leitch-Smith.

A brief late thrust aside, which saw Cedric Evina record his first goal for the club two minutes from time with a deflected wind-assisted cross to inspire hopes of salvaging something, Rovers could have no complaints at last night’s defeat.

The quality that Ferguson and Rovers supporters had been hankering for was in short supply, aside from one or two brief cameos from home debutant Lynden Gooch.

In mitigation, Rovers are currently toiling from a mini injury crisis, but Vale enjoyed a lightning start.

The visitors raided down the left, with Michael Kennedy finding Leitch-Smith who dinked the ball past Thorsten Stuckmann for a sloppy concession – with Rovers exposed at the back.

It was a half in which the visitors’ movement looked slick at times and troubled Rovers, so much so that the hosts were forced into a tactical change midway through the half with right-sided defender Mitchell Lund switching positions with wing-back Craig Alcock.

Vale were decent value for their lead, with Rovers offering only sporadic moments of quality.

One arrived prior to Vale’s opener when Gooch showed nimble footwork before seeing his curler beaten away by Jak Alnwick, with James Coppinger heading the follow-up straight at the keeper.

Vale promptly went upfield to draw first blood thanks to Leitch-Smith and the dangerous Kennedy went close to a second, only for a low shot to be blocked by Stuckmann, with Rovers somewhat flustered.

After losing their way, Rovers gradually became a touch more assertive and should have levelled just before the half-hour when Richard Chaplow stooped to conquer, but headed wide from point-blank range following Gooch’s cross.

Rovers were forced into a change at the interval with Stuckmann, hampered by a shoulder problem sustained just before the break after falling to the ground, replaced by Marko Marosi, with the Slovakian making his first league appearance since May. Marosi was protected well enough, with Vale content to sit on their gains and wait for their opportunity to strike and their game plan worked a treat.

Rovers huffed and puffed but failed to significantly trouble Alnwick, with a long-distance strike from the quiet Andy Williams being a rare moment of offensive threat.

Vale’s second goal owed a fair bit to some more lame defending, with JJ Hooper getting away from Alcock too easily down the left and after Rovers failed to clear his low cross, Leitch-Smith kept his composure before firing low past Marosi, albeit after benefiting from a ricochet.

The visitors proceeded to play the majority of the rest of the game out in relative comfort until an unlikely source gave Rovers an inkling of hope two minutes from time.

Evina’s looping cross deceived everyone including Alnwick, who could only push the effort into the top corner of the net after being caught out.

Alnwick showed rather more prowess to turn away Conor Grant’s piledriver as Rovers suddenly found belated confidence, but it was all too late as bogey side Vale claimed their second successive double over the South Yorkshiremen.

Doncaster Rovers: Stuckmann (Marosi 46); Lund (Lecygne 63), McCullough, Taylor-Sinclair; Alcock, Coppinger (Mandeville 74), Grant, Chaplow, Evina; Williams, Gooch. Substitutes unused: MacKenzie, Main, N’Guessan, Keegan.

Port Vale: Alnwick, Yates, Duffy, McGivern, Dickinson, Dodds, O’Connor, Grant, Kennedy (Foley 74); Leitch-Smith, Hooper (Robinson 86). Substitutes unused: Neal, Purkiss, Brown, Kelly, Robinson, Inniss.

Referee: G Eltringham (Tyne & Wear).