Doncaster Rovers: Gary McSheffrey accuses players of ‘shirking responsibility’

Ellis Harrison, whose arrival at Fleetwood was announced just two hours before kick off, scored the only goal of the game to leave Rovers rooted to the foot of the League One table. Given the positions of both clubs, this proved a costly defeat for Rovers.

Fleetwood are now nine points ahead of Doncaster, with the Cod Army currently occupying the spot immediately above the relegation places. The defeat means Rovers have now lost two thirds of their league games this campaign and McSheffrey feels a lack of self -belief is costing his side.

“You need a group that has got that self-belief and character and we’re lacking that and not showing it at the minute,” he admitted.

“Players need to step up, make things happen and be braver. The key word today was courage.

“As a centre-half you can put your head on things and that’s great. But the biggest bravery in the game is having the courage to take the ball in areas where it’s probably not comfortable but you need to be an option for a team-mate.

“I think too many of them were shirking responsibility of being the one to make things happen.

“The punters come, they work hard and they come here wanting to watch a good game of football and be entertained.

“I told the players they need to get them off their seats. Once they see you working with the required work-rate and passion, they will come with you.

“But there wasn’t enough individuals who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and wanted to be that one.”

Doncaster managed just two shots on target but came close early in the second half when Tommy Rowe flicked a header narrowly wide from a corner.

Charlie Seaman almost snatched a point for Rovers with a powerful drive in stoppage time that Alex Cairns pushed away.

McSheffrey added: “It took us until the 90th minute to have a good effort on goal and if we’d have scored that it would have been smash and grab. It wasn’t to the standard I was expecting.”

Doncaster Rovers: Dahlberg; Knoyle, Williams, Olowu, Horton (Cukur 87); Smith, Galbraith; Barlow (Dodoo 63), Rowe, Hiwula (Seaman 73); Bogle. Unused substitutes: Jones, Blythe, Greaves, Hasani.

Fleetwood Town: Cairns; Johnston, Clarke, Johnson, Andrew; Lane, Biggins, Batty, Camps, Hayes; Harrison (Pilkington 64). Unused substitutes: Crellin, Morris, Baggley, Conn-Clarke, Boyle, Bird.

Referee: D Bond (Lancashire)