Jones delighted with second half response from Doncaster Rovers

Obika’s header denied Jones a maiden win in his caretaker spell in charge in his fourth game at the helm, potentially inflicting a big blow to his hopes of landing the full-time job permanently.

But Jones was pleased with the reaction of his side after a disappointing weekend derby loss at Sheffield United, particularly on the restart, although the point keeps Rovers ensconced in the League One drop zone.

Jones made his playing comeback, but it lasted just 36 minutes when he went off with a hamstring niggle, putting his participation in Saturday’s home derby with Barnsley in doubt.

Jones, who was pleased with the contribution of debutant James Horsfield at right-back, said: “In the second half, we were much more positive. We gave away a sloppy goal, but we reacted from that and I thought for the last half an hour, we were magnificent and I thought we controlled it.

“We played the vast majority of the last half an hour in their half and got two great goals, with a first Football League goal for Keshi (Anderson) which was terrific and he took it very, very well and then we got the penalty and it was a great finish by Willo (Andy Williams).

“Dany N’Guessan could have made it three and it would have been game over. “They were hanging on at the end and the disappointing side of it is that we were done by a set-piece and we are normally big and strong and resilient at set-pieces.

“There were some disappointing faces in the dressing room, as you’d expect. But football does that to you sometimes.

“The most pleasing thing for me was that I got a very, very positive reaction from Saturday.

“They all tried to do what I expected of them and they gave me that little bit more.”