Doncaster Rovers 1 Charlton Athletic 2: Lyle Taylor puts John Marquis firmly in shade at sun-kissed Keepmoat

With pistols drawn at just after noon as opposed to dawn, John Marquis and Lyle Taylor took the stage to prove who was the hottest gunslinger in town – with the forwards at the top of the divisional scoring charts alongside Luton Town’s James Collins.

In the event it was Taylor who very much walked the walk.

A striking headline act, complete with a peroxide blond hairstyle that makes him distinguishable from the crowd, Taylor’s performance leaves Rovers with plenty to do in the second leg at The Valley on Friday evening.

The only crease in a pretty seamless display arrived with a second-half miss, with Rovers managing to afford themselves an inkling of hope thanks to Matty Blair’s late strike.

But it was still a day to fondly recall for the Charlton striker, who was frequently heralded in song by the travelling hordes from London.

By contrast his Rovers counterpart Marquis, complete with his own instantly noticeable ‘man bun’ hairstyle, found himself well policed by the strong arm of the law in the shape of Charlton’s strapping centre-halves Patrick Bauer and Naby Sarr.

It was Marquis who was chosen ahead of Taylor when it came to representation in League One’s PFA Team of the Year.

But there was no doubting who stole the show in the Spring sunshine at the Keepmoat.

Marquis’s one dangerous moment arrived early in the second period when he bundled into the side-netting from close in and it took a late poacher’s effort three minutes from time from an unlikely source in Blair to hand Rovers a lifeline.

Having assumed responsibility with the broadest of shoulders following Karlan Grant’s January move to Huddersfield Town, Taylor’s 22nd goal of the season – and tenth in 11 outings – and clever assistance in Charlton’s second goal ensured that the talk centred on him after the game and not 25-goal Marquis.

Having taken justifiable satisfaction at clinching play-off participation with Rovers at the expense of a Peterborough side who dispensed with his services in February 2018 – after questioning his abilities to get Posh into the to six – Rovers’ manager Grant McCann was plainly not interested in basking in the glow of that feat. Having gone up three times as a player via the end-of-season lottery, the drive of the Northern Irishman – who has consistently cajoled Rovers to “aim for the stars” since taking over – to add a promotion to his managerial CV is self-evident to anyone who broaches the subject with him.

Standing in his way and equally hellbent in his own particular quest to take his Charlton side back to the Championship was a formidable adversary in Bowyer.

Two former midfielders with steely ambition in management and a look that suggests that they are no lover of fools when provoked, McCann and Bowyer have successfully fought their corner all season – and their determination to be the last one standing at the final whistle at Wembley is obvious.

Suited and booted for the occasion on the touchline, Bowyer’s swell of pride at witnessing something close to a Sunday-best showing will have been strong.

McCann, by contrast, cut a more frustrated figure, until late on at any rate.

The smartness and incision largely came from a Charlton side whose game-management in a first-leg performance that possessed few flaws was exemplary until their late concession.

The result still made the trip worthwhile for the sun-drenched 3,700 visiting following, who had got up with the larks to make the journey from the capital to South Yorkshire.

And how they enjoyed themselves back in the county, even if Bowyer sensibly elected not to emulate one of Charlton predecessors in Chris Powell and celebrate at the end by swinging on the crossbars at the final whistle – Powell’s histrionics came in a famous FA Cup victory at Hillsborough in February 2014.

For Doncaster, twenty-odd thousand Londoners will now provide an intense welcoming committee on Friday.

The odds will be stacked against McCann – just as he likes it in many respects – but it will take something head-turning to ensure Rovers return to the capital the following weekend.

But you just never know.