Doncaster Rovers take step forward but season still to be defined - final word on win over Peterborough United
As the rain continued to fall at a sodden Eco-Power Stadium, there was a sense that Doncaster Rovers' season was at a crossroads.
See out the win and anything felt possible; surrender a two-goal lead and another late promotion charge would be harder to believe in.
In the end, Grant McCann's men dug deep to show there is life in their campaign yet.
Rovers were in danger of ending Saturday afternoon below Peterborough United, who have been rooted in the relegation zone all season, but they can now begin to plot a route up a tight table after a first win in 11 League One games.
While they still have work to do to put daylight between themselves and the bottom four, Doncaster are the same six-point margin from the play-off places.
It is a scenario that reinforces McCann's assertion that there is no standout team in the division and anything is possible.
In the build-up to the date with his former club, he said: "Nobody has been really ultra-consistent, have they?
"If we can put one or two wins together, we can automatically put ourselves within touching distance of the top six again.
"It's so close but it's November and it's about being in and around that mix come February and March. That's when it starts and when we kick in.
"As we all know, the Christmas period is so important. So, December, January, February leading into March is when the business end of the season sort of takes over. We want to make sure that we're one of those teams."
Saturday's display brought McCann's words to life.
Doncaster were among the early pacesetters with 16 points from their first seven games before discovering the harsh realities of the third tier.
A first win in 84 days provided a timely reminder of what his side are capable of.
Fresh from holding high-flying Stevenage to a goalless draw on the road, Rovers came out like a team with McCann's rallying call ringing in their ears.
The hosts did the damage inside the opening 24 minutes thanks to a double from the impressive Jordan Gibson.
Harry Clifton had already fired an early warning shot by the time Gibson broke the deadlock in the seventh minute.
After allowing Clifton to send a rasping drive over, 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.
Harry 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 stood firm to deny 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.
As McCann put it afterwards, Rovers had to show both sides of their game to earn three precious points.
A win over an improving Peterborough carries significance but the defining chapter of Doncaster's season lies ahead.
Crucially, they have been here before under McCann.
Rovers collected 42 points from a possible 51 two seasons ago to turn relegation fears into promotion hope before putting together an 11-match unbeaten run earlier this year to eventually escape League Two.
Doncaster have form for going through the gears in the new year but they must first overcome the challenges of the mid-season slog.
This victory was a strong first step.
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.