Doncaster Rovers 1 Brighton & HA 1: Diouf remains defiant as Doncaster bid to beat drop

Former African player of the year El Hadji Diouf is no stranger to controversy, having been involved in off-the-field bust-ups against Blackpool and Leeds United in the last month alone.

But even at 31 he can still prove a class act on the pitch and could yet be the key to Doncaster Rovers remaining in the Championship.

Diouf grabbed the captain’s armband as Brian Stock hobbled off with a groin injury in the 10th minute and generally drove Rovers forward against the Championship’s only unbeaten side of 2012.

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Although his reputation had clearly gone before him as he twice went tumbling in the area in the first half only to see Geoff Eltringham wave play on, Diouf’s enthusiasm for the cause was clearly evident.

He delivered a series of tantalisiing crosses which went unrewarded until, in the 79th minute, he played a short corner to Tommy Spurr, took the return and crossed into the area where Joe Mattock flung up an arm to handle as Giles Barnes attempted to head home.

Goalkeeper Peter Brezovan seemed transfixed to his line as Diouf calmly slotted the penalty inches inside the post to make it 1-1.

A point was the least Rovers deserved as Brighton literally paid the penalty for attempting to hold on to their lead instead of pressing for more goals.

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No-one should have been surprised by the scoreline, however, for only one team have converted fewer opportunities than play-off chasers Brighton this season and that is bottom club Rovers.

So it was important that Dean Saunders had his defence set up correctly and, despite having to reshape it yet again, it generally was.

Central defender Habib Beye was dominant yet Rovers were punished on the one occasion they switched off against their counter-atacking visitors.

That was in the 20th minute when Jara Reyes played the ball inside to Liam Bridcutt, who scuffed his shot from outside the area only for it to find unmarked Scotland striker Craig Mackail-Smith, who made a hash of his first-time attempt to score but still had enough time to control and convert past returning Wolves loanee Carl Ikeme.

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Rovers forced a series of half-chances, a diving header from Barnes flashing wide before the break and dominated possession after it as Gus Poyet reined in his wide men, Alan Navarro camped in front of the defence and Adam El-Abd repelled anything which came into the area.

Rovers got their reward but two points from the last three games is hardly going to keep them up, although Diouf remains positive.

The former Senegal striker said: “I think we were unlucky today as we tried so hard. There was a good reaction from the team on the pitch and with 14 games to go if we continue to play like we did today then we are going to collect some points.

“We have to continue to show good character. We have to be happy with one point today because we played against a good side. When you are down at the bottom you are not so lucky, like the goal they scored from nowhere. When you are down at the bottom you don’t get chances like that but we have to keep going.”

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On taking the captain’s armband, he continued: “If I have been captain for Senegal and for 12 million people I can be captain anywhere.

“But it is not about being captain. When I signed for Doncaster it was a big responsibility and I consider the biggest responsibility is to help the team to stay up. It is about doing well, showing a good example and working hard because I know if I start working hard everyone is going to follow me.”

Diouf’s future is unclear, although he has an option to sign a 12-month deal at the end of the season to remain at Rovers, his 10th club. “I am enjoying it here and we have a good gaffer, who is passionate. He has good ideas and, if we can stay up, next season can be one of the biggest for Doncaster Rovers Football Club.

“I am confident we can stay up. Today was a good day for us with everyone around us losing,” added the former Liverpool forward.

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“We just need to keep going. We played well against Leeds last week and today and we are looking a proper team. The wins will definitely come. The lads know the responsibility they have to the club and to the fans and to themselves

“I said to the lads let’s do everything we can, even if we have to kill ourselves on the pitch, because we can do it, we won’t go down.”

Doncaster head to Nottingham Forest tomorrow and a meeting with former manager Sean O’Driscoll, who is now on their opponents’ coaching staff, and Diouff admits: “It’s a massive game. They are fighting to stay up as well but if we show the same character we can have a good result there.”

Manager Saunders added: “That point might keep us in the league – that’s the way we have to look at it.

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“We have a big game on Tuesday night. The players have to roll their sleeves up and we have to go to Forest determined and make sure we come away with something and not let them gain any ground on us.”