Nothing to fear as Doncaster Rovers head to Charlton Athletic with renewed Wembley hope

MATTY BLAIR insists that Doncaster Rovers will go into their League One play-off semi-final second leg at Charlton Athletic with nothing to fear after his morale-boosting late strike at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Blair’s close-range goal three minutes from time provided Rovers with a lifeline on an afternoon when the visitors looked like taking a two-goal advantage back to The Valley for Friday’s second meeting after quickfire first-half goals from Lyle Taylor and Joe Aribo.

The goal helped provide Rovers with something tangible for an improved showing on the resumption and Blair believes it represents the template to follow in South-East London in four days.

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Blair said: “Playing how we did in the second half means we have nothing to fear.

Doncaster Rovers' Matty Blair collects the ball after his goal against Charlton Athletic (Picture: Dean Atkins).Doncaster Rovers' Matty Blair collects the ball after his goal against Charlton Athletic (Picture: Dean Atkins).
Doncaster Rovers' Matty Blair collects the ball after his goal against Charlton Athletic (Picture: Dean Atkins).

“It is a game that I am really excited for and I am really looking forward to it. We will give it a right go.

“They are a very good outfit and are not where they were in the league for no reason. We know that before coming into the game.

“We knew they are very good on the ball and their front players press extremely well and we had to deal with that and I think we did in the second half.

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“We pushed them back as much as we possibly could and managed to score a goal to make it a decent tie [second leg] on Friday.

Matty Blair: Scored a late consolation for Doncaster in the semi-final first leg with Charlton.Matty Blair: Scored a late consolation for Doncaster in the semi-final first leg with Charlton.
Matty Blair: Scored a late consolation for Doncaster in the semi-final first leg with Charlton.

“To get into the play-offs is one thing, but we aren’t just here to make up the numbers and we are a very good squad and can beat anybody on our day.

“We drew Charlton and came into the game thinking we can win it and we will go into Friday’s game thinking we can win it as well. Nothing changes.”

On his psychologically-uplifting strike, Blair added: “It was a lovely moment and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I knew that at the time in the game and with the fans getting up as well it created such an atmosphere that I thought we could get a second.”

Report and analysis: Page 2