Grant McCann faces biggest test yet at Doncaster Rovers - Leon Wobschall comment
TWELVE months on and the mood in the Doncaster Rovers' away end could not have been more different.
Last November, Grant McCann watched his side lose 2-1 at Lincoln City - to extend the club's winless run to nine league matches, serious territory for most managers.
Fortunately, McCann could count on having credit in the bank—Rovers' 1,693-strong support sang his name intermittently. That stoic patience was rewarded and Rovers eventually turned a corner.
Which brings us to the present. Rovers' travelling followers - many of whom would have been among the big away contingent at Lincoln - were in far more febrile and angry mood after seeing their side succumb to a pitiful FA Cup exit to Kidderminster Harriers.
Damning chants of 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' and 'We turn up and why don't you' arrived. McCann himself got the treatment.
A chorus of 'Sacked in the morning' was aired with McCann booed at the end of an awful afternoon.
Forty-two places separated the two clubs in the pyramid ahead of the first-round tie at Aggborough. What made the 3-0 defeat all the more stark for Rovers arrived in the fact that Harriers, mid-table in the National League, had won just once in their previous nine matches in all competitions.
And then there was what had happened seven days earlier when Doncaster again imploded en route to a wretched 6-1 reverse at Aaron Collins-inspired MK Dons. McCann's side are currently just one place above the League One drop zone.
After Kidderminster, McCann did not shy away from his responsibilities - as he never does - and fronted up. For the second successive Saturday, he issued an apology to fans.
In his time at Rovers, McCann has been in tough situations before and come out on the other side. The Northern Irishman has consistently spoken about how he actually revels in being written off and uses it as fuel.
“I’m from Sandy Row in Belfast. I do not hide” is something he has said on more than one occasion.
The break in Rovers' league schedule might just be timely. McCann and co must close ranks and come out fighting ahead of a critical Yorkshire derby double-header against Bradford City and Huddersfield Town. Their previous derby against Sheffield Wednesday is something that should at least inspire them.
Taking aside the Trophy trip to Rochdale, Rovers have shipped 12 goals in three matches.
McCann brought his players in on a Sunday to go over mistakes following the recent rout at MK Dons. Worryingly, another dereliction of defensive duty arrived at Kidderminster, where his side lost duels all over the pitch.
Going forward, Rovers have had issues in terms of goalscoring and have yet to get a consistent tune out of several summer signings. Injuries have compounded matters.
McCann will need to draw upon all of his considerable experience to change the narrative at a club he loves. Don't bet against him, but it will perhaps be his biggest Rovers test to date. The fans don't have his back as much as they once did. McCann enjoys a fight and it's just as well.