Doncaster Rovers 2 Peterborough United 1: Hosts looking up after ending long wait for win

Grant McCann's side were without a victory in 10 games dating back to early September, a frustrating run that left them just outside the drop zone.

But they can now begin to plot their way up a congested table after holding off a spirited fightback by their visitors at a rain-sodden Eco-Power Stadium.

Jordan Gibson scored a first-half double to calm any early nerves in the home camp but they were frayed by the end of a hard-fought encounter.

Harry Leonard came off the bench to halve the deficit just after the interval and leave Doncaster facing a character test in front of a tense crowd.

But they demonstrated their fighting spirit to see out a precious victory that had been almost three months in the making.

After starting the afternoon at risk of being leapfrogged by lowly Posh, Rovers ended it just three points behind 10th-placed Barnsley.

Doncaster's first objective is to climb clear of danger – and Saturday's win goes a long way to easing those concerns.

Harry Clifton had already fired an early warning shot by the time Gibson broke the deadlock in the seventh minute.

After allowing Clifton to fire over unchallenged, Peterborough were opened up on their right side and paid a heavy price.

Luke Molyneux's cross with the outside of his left boot was exquisite and Gibson provided the finish it deserved, aided by a deflection off Posh goalkeeper Alex Bass.

The visitors controlled the ball in the first half but had nothing to show for their possession.

Archie Collins saw a curling effort pushed wide by Thimothée Lo-Tutala before Kyrell Lisbie had a goal ruled out for offside.

Peterborough's frustrations only continued, Gibson keeping his composure to finish through the legs of Bass after good work by George Broadbent left him in space in the box.

Doncaster went in search of a third before half-time but Posh held firm and got the goal they craved just after the interval.

Leonard – one of two inspired half-time substitutions alongside the lively Declan Frith – found the bottom corner from the edge of the box and all of a sudden Rovers were on the back foot.

Bass produced a smart save to keep out Brandon Hanlan's goal-bound low shot but it was otherwise all Peterborough as the home side became increasingly fraught.

Lo-Tutala denied Leonard and Matthew Garbett in quick succession before Billy Sharp spurned a golden opportunity to restore Doncaster's two-goal advantage at the other end.

The veteran striker found himself through on goal just minutes after his introduction, only to send his shot wide under pressure from the onrushing Bass.

Garbett curled an effort wide as the game entered the closing stages but that was as close as Peterborough came to finding a leveller in the face of committed defending from their resolute hosts.

Doncaster: Lo-Tutala, Sterry, Maxwell, Bailey, McGrath, Molyneux (Middleton 84), Broadbent, Hanlan (Sharp 61), Gibson (Grehan 73), O'Riordan, Clifton (Gotts 61). Substitutes unused: Lawlor, Nixon, Crew.

Goals: Gibson (7, 24)

Peterborough: Bass, Collins, Khela (Frith 46), Lees, Woods, Lisbie (Lindgren 71), Mills, Morgan (Leonard 46), Garbett, O'Connor, Kioso. Substitutes unused: Reyes, Johnston, O'Brien-Brady, Okagbue.

Goals: Leonard (50)

Referee: Ollie Yates.