Swindon Town v Doncaster Rovers – Darren Moore has faith in players to focus on what matters

Back in League One action towards the front of a tight pack of play-off hopefuls, Rovers take on a Swindon side who despite being in the relegation zone have “not been a million miles away” lately in Moore’s eyes. It is a big game.

But. Seven days from now Doncaster have an FA Cup trip to the London Stadium, home of Premier League West Ham United. Pull off a shock win and they will be going to Old Trafford or Anfield in round five. These are days which turn the heads of football lovers.

Moore insists he is not worried his players will take their eyes off the job in hand. If that was a possibility, the dining-room intelligence he gathers from Sal and Vicky would have alerted him.

“It’s very simple because of the nature the players have,” he explains. “They’ve got a wonderful nature and we bring players to the football club with the right mentality.

“We’ve got two lovely ladies in our canteen staff, Sal and Vicky, and they tell me how the players are in and around them. That tells me the humility and the respect they carry towards the football club and the people who are in it.

“So implementing the message that we’re back to league football is fine.

“I’m pleased we’ve progressed in the Cup because we’re competitive as a team and a club and we’re going to be faced with Premier League opposition so we know it’s going to be tough. When we come to that, we’ll pick up the pieces there.

“But as the manager I’m only focussed on today and so are the players. When that FA Cup game comes around we’ll deal with it. Everything else will take care of itself.”

On top of that, he also has the option of a coach on the pitch after centre-back Andy Butler extended his short-term contract to the end of the season with the option of 12 more months to come. With Ben Whiteman’s departure to Preston North End confirmed and Madger Gomes still injured, Moore may keep him alongside new captain Tom Anderson so others can fill the gaps elsewhere.

Butler doubles as Doncaster Rovers Belles’ manager and filled in for Moore when he was forced to miss the FA Cup trip to FC United of Manchester because he was in precautionary Covid-19 isolation.

“Because he’s got a coaching background he’s thirsting to learn and develop,” says Moore.

“I’m happy with that because it means I’ve got a coach going over the white line.

“When I was playing at Burton Albion at the end of my career I took a coach’s head onto the pitch. It can be another added advantage if you’ve still got the legs.

“He’s an absolute pillar on the pitch. I certainly saw things at Blackburn (last week) that were absolutely superb.”

When two Reece James goals saw them off in mid-December, the Robins were still new to manager John Sheridan but Moore is seeing signs that the former Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United midfielder is starting to make his mark at the County Ground.

“Swindon had a wonderful result last week at Ipswich (their first win after a run of one point from a possible 18),” cautions Moore. “They’ve probably changed 70 per cent of the squad since we last faced them but we’ve got to be ready.

“If you’ve been watching the football they’ve been playing they’ve not been a million miles away.

“They’re a wonderful team and they’re starting to find that group cohesion so we’ll have to be at our best again.”

Doncaster have enough on their plate as it is without getting sidetracked by thoughts of the Hammers.

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