DONCASTER Rovers manager Grant McCann praised Luke Molyneux after casting aside his miss in the penalty shoot-out in last week’s EFL Trophy win at Huddersfield Town to score from 12 yards in the pivotal moment in Tuesday’s League One encounter with the Terriers.

In part two of Rovers’ double-header with Town in the space of seven days, McCann’s side prevailed again.

Molyneux kept his cool to send Lee Nicholls the wrong way after Bali Mumba was penalised for a silly handball offence.

Rovers held out in the second half to continue their uplifting 2026 so far. They have lost just twice in eight league games this year, winning four and have moved up to seventh-from-bottom – three points above the bottom four in League One.

Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann gives it the thumbs up at full-time after his side's key win over Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

placeholder image — Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann gives it the thumbs up at full-time after his side's key win over Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

McCann, whose side visit Rotherham United in a big weekend derby, said: “It was probably a tale of two halves, really.

"I thought in the first half, we were good with the ball. We waited for them to press us and play through and cause them some sort of problems with the different shapes that we moved into, which I was really pleased with.

"Obviously, we scored a good goal off a good bit of play. A great pass from Elliot (Lee), and we ended up getting a penalty from it.

"I'm really pleased for Mols, because obviously he missed in the Trophy last week, last Tuesday night.

Doncaster Rovers' Luke Molyneux is congratulated after his match-winning penalty against Huddersfield Town by Jordan Gibson. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

"So I'm sure that was playing in his head a little bit.

"He didn't say anything about it, but I'm sure it was. To score, obviously, in the away end as well, in front of two-and-a-half/ three thousand Huddersfield fans, is great composure from him.

"It shows you the ability that he's got just to blank everything out and score."

On his side managing the game and showing grit and organisation to see it out in the second half, he continued: "In the second half, I felt it became much more even, really and scrappy.

"Obviously, the pitch is a bit worn at this moment in time.

“The groundsmen are working very hard to put it back together for us, but the weather's been horrendous up here, so it's just brilliant to have it in that sort of condition, considering the weather and the games that we've had on it.

"The second half was scrappy. We defended well. We threw our bodies in the way.

"We defended everything that went into our box. The centre-backs were outstanding and Timmy (Lo-Tutala) was outstanding.”