Exeter 1 Doncaster 3: Liam Mandeville sets the benchmark for Rovers

substitute Liam Mandeville was the one player to escape the censure of Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Ferguson.
Liam Mandeville: scored the equaliser against Exeter soon after his second-half introduction to spark a comeback from Doncaster Rovers (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).Liam Mandeville: scored the equaliser against Exeter soon after his second-half introduction to spark a comeback from Doncaster Rovers (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).
Liam Mandeville: scored the equaliser against Exeter soon after his second-half introduction to spark a comeback from Doncaster Rovers (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).

Despite hitting back from a goal behind at St James’ Park to move into third place, Ferguson was far from happy.

Mandeville came off the bench in the second half to cancel out Reuben Reid’s penalty and create two goals for John Marquis, but Ferguson said Rovers had let themselves down for three-quarters of the game.

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Ferguson, who lost Andy Butler with a neck injury at the break, said: “It was a good result in the end. Liam came on and changed the game, really. He was excellent, he was clinical. He scored the first and set up the next two.

“He was without a shadow of a doubt the difference.

“I was very brief with my players after the game. They know exactly what I feel about the performance and it’ll stay in the dressing room.

“I’m just pleased we managed to dig out a win because the win is the most important thing.

“But up until Liam came on, we were nowhere near the standards we expect.

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“There’s no excuses for the performance. We didn’t function as a team, we were nowhere near good enough on the ball.

“I wasn’t happy with the performance.”

Mandeville replaced Niall Mason after 69 minute and levelled for Doncaster three minutes later.

Exeter had taken the lead when Reid smashed the ball home from the spot after David Wheeler had been brought down by goalkeeper Marko Mariso inside the area.

The lead lasted until the 72nd minute when Mandeville met James Coppinger’s cross to head in off the underside of the bar.

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Reid then had a shot saved by Mariso, but Doncaster went in front on 78 minutes when a low cross from Mandeville was turned in by Marquis from six yards.

Mandeville turned provider again in the 90th minute when he slipped the ball to Marquis, who beat goalkeeper James Hamon.

Exeter are yet to win at home this season and are next to bottom as the pressure on manager Paul Tisdale continues to grow.

Exeter City: Hamon, Stacey, Sweeney, Oakley, Woodman, Wheeler (Simpson 78), James, Taylor, Holmes, Watkins, Reid (Jay 83). Unused substitutes: Olejnik, Grant, McAlinden, Riley-Lowe, Brown.

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Doncaster Rovers: Marosi, Mason (Mandeville 69), Wright (Alcock 57), Butler (Baudry 46), Evina, Houghton, Blair, Calder, Rowe, Coppinger, Marquis. Unused substitutes: Etheridge, Keegan, Longbottom, Beestin.

Referee: C Breakspear (Surrey).