Doncaster Rovers star banned for Blackpool trip

DONCASTER Rovers will be without 22-goal John Marquis at Blackpool tomorrow after the striker was sent off for two yellow cards at Wimbledon.
John Marquis: Sent off for two yellow cards.John Marquis: Sent off for two yellow cards.
John Marquis: Sent off for two yellow cards.

He left the field in the 51st minute before Steve Seddon and Shane McLoughlin fired bottom club Wimbledon to a crucial win.

Seddon put the Dons ahead on 67 minutes with substitute McLoughlin sealing a first league home win since Boxing Day in stoppage-time.

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Rovers chief Grant McCann, who was charged by the FA over his conduct following the draw with Charlton, claimed the second yellow for a challenge on goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was harsh.

Rovers remain sixth despite four league games without a win but McCann says his players need to once again play like every game is their last as they look to reignite their push for a top-six finish.

He criticised them for being ‘too safe’ and failing to turn the screw on the bottom side.

“We looked a safe team. Everything was safe. We passed back too much, we didn’t play with any real intensity especially in the first half.

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“It’s not like us really because the boys never get that message. We need to find the flair, the front foot, the creating chances, the playing with freedom - we need to find it because it was missing.

“It’s a disappointing result for us but there is a long way to go.,” added McCann, who still felt Rovers responded very well to going down to 10 men – James Coppinger twice being denied by the goalkeeper before the Dons scored their second.

AFC Wimbledon: Ramsdale, Kalambayi, Nightingale, Thomas, Sibbick (McLoughlin 63), Wagstaff (Barcham 63), Hartigan, Wordsworth, Seddon, Pigott (Hanson 81), Folivi. Unused substitutes: Watson, Pinnock, Connolly, McDonnell.

Doncaster Rovers: Marosi, Lewis (Crawford 46), Downing, Butler, Andrew, Blair, Whiteman, Kane (Smith 68), Wilks (May 68), Marquis, Coppinger. Unused substitutes: Rowe, Anderson, Sadlier, Jones.

Referee: P Marsden (Lancashire).