Hull City 3 Doncaster Rovers 1: Pearson has play-offs in sight

While admitting he did not know how many wins would secure a play-off spot, Pearson has urged his troop to remain focused on their own games and securing maximum points from their remaining matches.

“What I would say is in the four games we have left now, the margin of error is the same as it was a few weeks where we had six, seven, eight, nine left and maybe five away, six away,” he said.

“It remains the same sort of challenge and we have got to try and win our games and that is it.

“We have got two at home, two away and we have just got to try and focus on our own games and see what we can do.

“It would be nice if we could but we have said for weeks now that we would give it our best shot.

“Today’s an important step because it was a game that we had to try and win and it could have been more comfortable for us, but we got the three points and that is the most important thing.”

City manager Pearson made three changes to the side which had extended the Tigers’ unbeaten away run to 16 games with a draw at Swansea in midweek.

Goalkeeper Vito Mannone replaced Matt Duke, Richard Garcia took over from James Harper in midfield and Jay Simpson was given the nod up front in place of Aaron Mclean.

Doncaster chief Sean O’Driscoll named the same side that had drawn 1-1 against Preston North End in midweek.

The Tigers struck first, Richard Garcia tucking the ball home from close range after a shot from Matty Fryatt was blocked into his path.

Doncaster responded with Simon Gillett firing a shot between the hands of Mannone and against the post for Franck Moussa to drill home from the left.

Fryatt restored the Tigers’advantage from the penalty spot after Shelton Martis was booked for a push on James Chester.

Garcia was stretchered away with a leg injury and replaced by James Devitt before the interval, which the Tigers went into leading 2-1.

The unmarked Fryatt soon made it 3-1 after the break, diving to head home at the far post a cross from Liam Rosenoir but it took a fine save from Mannone to prevent Gillett making it 3-2 soon after.

Veteran striker Jason Euell and Spurs loanee Ryan Mason were introduced by the visitors but they continued to look wide open at the back as the Tigers maintained their chase for a play-off place.

Doncaster manager O’Driscoll was scathing in his criticism of his side’s display at the KC Stadium.

“I have no complaints,” he said.

“They played like a team that wanted to get in the play-offs and we played like a team that wanted to get relegated.

“So no complaints and no positives for me.”