Shooting practice pays dividends as Doncaster Rovers edge out Oxford United

Darren Moore revealed that some extra shooting practice on the training ground paved the way for Doncaster Rovers' 3-2 triumph over Oxford United.
Fejiri Okenabirhie celebrates after putting Doncaster Rovers 2-1 up against Oxford United. Pictures: Jonathan GawthorpeFejiri Okenabirhie celebrates after putting Doncaster Rovers 2-1 up against Oxford United. Pictures: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Fejiri Okenabirhie celebrates after putting Doncaster Rovers 2-1 up against Oxford United. Pictures: Jonathan Gawthorpe

The South Yorkshiremen edged Saturday's showdown between League One's form sides, ending the Yellows' nine-match winning streak to record their ninth victory in 10 games despite spending long periods on the back foot.

Three points take Rovers to within touching distance of the top of the table, and were achieved courtesy of some clinical forward play on an afternoon which saw the hosts muster just three shots on target over the course of 90-odd minutes of football.

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"The goals that we scored were good goals in terms of the composure of the finishes," Moore reflected.

Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Taylor Richards slots home Rovers' third of the afternoon.Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Taylor Richards slots home Rovers' third of the afternoon.
Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Taylor Richards slots home Rovers' third of the afternoon.

"I was really pleased and ultimately we took the chances when they did come and in that type of game you have to take them. We know the quality that Oxford have.

"It's part of things that we have been working on in training. We did some finishing again this week and it has paid off. When the chances have come, we've got people at the front end of the pitch who've taken them well.

"All three of them were spot-on finishes. In a high-level match we had to take them and we got them."

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Jon Taylor fired Doncaster ahead somewhat against the run of play on 31 minutes, though Oxford deservedly pulled level before half-time through Sam Long.

But two strikes in the space of four minutes right at the start of the second period from Fejiri Okenabirhie and Taylor Richards put the home side in firm control of the match.

Olamide Shodipo's deflected effort reduced the deficit in the 70th minute, sparking a late rally from the visitors, however Rovers dug in and successfully negotiated seven minutes of stoppage-time.

This left Moore able to reflect on a job well done at full-time, also leading him to describe what was an absorbing clash as a "good advert" for third-tier football.

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He added: "I said beforehand about it being a quality match and that hopefully, with the two teams in the form that they were in, it would be a good advert for League One football.

"I thought it was today in terms of the quality shown. On a difficult afternoon with the weather, it turned out to be a good spectacle and we've shaded a really close game.

"There was a lot of quality and I thought both sets of players attacked the game in the right frame of mind.

"I think we scored some good goals. When they got back to 3-2 it was about resilient defending from that point onwards in the game.

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"Maybe at times when there was a change over in possession I felt we could have used the ball better. It was the decision-making, we needed just a little bit more composure, but it's a small critique really because Oxford played their part and pressed and harried us really well.

"It was end-to-end and I'm pleased with the three points."

Victory leaves Rovers level on points with second-placed Hull City having played three games less, and just three shy of leaders Lincoln City, who have also completed more fixtures than Moore's men.

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