McCann holds honest talks with players after MK Dons meltdown

Grant McCann has revealed how a few honest conversations have helped Doncaster Rovers’ overcome their Halloween horror show at MK Dons on Saturday.

Rovers were thumped 6-1 by Paul Warne’s side on October 31, conceding four goals in 20 second-half minutes after getting to within a goal with a quarter of the game left.

Manager McCann took responsibility in his post-match comments but ordered everyone in on Sunday to clear the air.

And he got the desired response on Tuesday night when it was Doncaster’s turn to score four second-half goals in a 4-1 win at League Two side Rochdale in the EFL Trophy.

McCann said: “I was really pleased with the response on Tuesday night. It's never easy to go to a League Two team away from home, particularly after the defeat we had at MK Dons. I was pleased and pretty calm all night to be honest.

“I felt a real sense of calmness come over me in the game because I was pleased with how the boys were Sunday and Monday. We just heard a few things that we all needed to say and get off our chest.

“That's why we addressed it (MK Dons defeat). My job is obviously to sit with players individually and find out little bits and pieces that I need to find out.

“It's been a busy week, it's been a good week.

“We moved on very quickly as soon as the players left on Sunday, there was a red line drawn under it and we moved on to the next game.

“And I think they show what they're capable of.

“People can say, well, it was a League Two team or whatever, but you've still got to go and win the games and we've done that. I think everyone's looking forward to the FA Cup game now on Saturday.”

FA Cup first round banana skin

That brings another challenging away trip to National League side Kidderminster Harriers in the first round of the FA Cup.

“I've seen a few of their games now. They want to play and they play in the right way,” McCann said of the mid-table Harriers.

“They've got some decent players at the top end of the pitch.

“If you're not right, they can hurt you. We've done our work on them. We're hoping now we can go and get ourselves into the next round.

“It's a tournament that we want to try and go far in. Financially, for the football club, it's massive. It's massive for me.”

Rovers reached the fourth round and the third round in the last two seasons.

Is Leyton Orient game on?

McCann also revealed the status of their League One game with Leyton Orient the following Saturday is still undecided due to international call-ups.

“At the minute, it's still going ahead,” said McCann. “I think we're all waiting to see whether Tommy Simkin (goalkeeper) is going to be in the England squad.

“I think he was in the long list, but it hasn't been narrowed down yet. I imagine we'll hear today, tomorrow, at some time.”