Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann left to rue 'soft goals' following defeat to Plymouth Argyle
Grant McCann was left to rue “very soft goals” after his Doncaster Rovers side were beaten 2-1 by Plymouth Argyle.
Relegation-threatened Doncaster took the lead at Home Park when Elliot Lee met an Owen Bailey cross and volleyed home.
However, Bim Pepple cancelled out the opener and an audacious free-kick from Herbie Kane secured three points for the Pilgrims.
Doncaster sit three points above the League One relegation zone.
Grant McCann laments ‘soft goals’
McCann said: “I think we have lost the game on two very soft goals that we have conceded. They haven’t done a lot to score those goals really. It’s probably our own doing.
“The first one is a long throw, and we just don’t get out to the cross, and we don’t stay with the second phase in the box so that’s on us.
“The second one is just a disjointed line from the free-kick from Kane which doesn’t give our goalkeeper an opportunity to [claim the ball].
“We’ve conceded two of the softest goals to lose this game and that’s probably the most frustrating part because I don’t think there was a lot in the game.
“I thought we were good in spells and they obviously scored on the stroke of half-time which has given them momentum and a bit of a feel for the second half and the timing of the goal is poor from us.
“The referee’s given a soft penalty but we managed to save it and clear it. I just feel frustrated, I don’t think we deserved to lose the game and I don’t think any team deserved to win it.”
Tom Cleverley’s view
Plymouth boss Tom Cleverley, meanwhile, said: “They were the better side first half, up until the change of system when we went to 4-3-3.
“Could I have done that sooner? I am a little bit annoyed with myself because we were getting outnumbered in midfield and we needed to get another body in there, so we dropped Caleb Watts in there and we got a foothold in the game.
“The second half was much better, the intensity, the care on the ball. The introduction of the substitutes had a really good impact.
“It’s an achievement we have climbed 14 places from where we were, because we went through some difficult times together, not just the group but all of us, the club and fans.
“To get into the top half was significant. To get into the top 10 was a challenge and now we focus on the next one.”