Doncaster Rovers stay on course after tough week
DELIGHTED Doncaster manager Darren Moore praised the character of his side after a testing week.
Striker Fejiri Okenabirhie bagged a brace as Rovers triumphed on their travels to keep their promotion push on track at the expense of the struggling Robins.
The result was just what Moore craved after selling captain Ben Whiteman to Preston North End in midweek and seeing their preparations disrupted by heavy snow.
“With what went on in the week off the pitch and all the talk around it, you can’t help have your mind and attention on that,” reflected Moore. “Not to have training on Thursday was a bitter one for us because we work with real intent on the game ahead.
“We had to go to the Midlands to find a base to train – that we managed to do that was pleasing.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game because they had a great result last week against Ipswich and they’ve made a lot of changes to the team, with some of those players on show.
“But we shocked them early doors with Fej’s goal, that knocked the stuffing out of them.”
Okenabirhie fired Rovers ahead after five minutes with a clinical strike, before doubling the visitors’ lead on the stroke of half-time with a fine header from Andy Butler’s cross.
Hallam Hope pulled a goal back with 17 minutes remaining and Rovers were forced to soak up late pressure.
Rovers are three points behind second-placed Hull but with a game in hand on the Tigers.
Swindon Town: Travers, Thompson, Fryers (Curran 27), Conroy, Caddis, Twine, Lyden, Smith (Smith 59), Jaiyesimi, Pitman (Hope 60), Palmer. Unused substitutes: Smith, Odimayo, Payne, Grant, Hope.
Doncaster Rovers: Balcombe, John, Butler, Anderson, Halliday, James, Richards (Greaves 74), Lokilo, Inacio (Smith 57), Okenabirhie, John-Jules (Amos 81). Unused substitutes: Jones, Williams, Horton.
Referee: O Yates.
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