Doncaster Rovers: Ferguson urges players to feel disappointment of FA Cup exit

Winning promotion from League Two may be the goal but Darren Ferguson refused to hide his disappointment and frustration as Doncaster Rovers slumped out of the FA Cup at Oldham Athletic.
Darren Ferguson and assistant Gavin StrachanDarren Ferguson and assistant Gavin Strachan
Darren Ferguson and assistant Gavin Strachan

A much-changed Rovers side disappointed in a 2-1 defeat at Boundary Park and Ferguson was far from pleased with the performance.

And he encouraged his players to feel the disappointment of being out of the FA Cup.

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"We're out now for 12 months and 12 months is a long time to have to wait now," Ferguson said.

"Wait until you see the second round draw. Wait until you see who gets Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal in the third round.

"We're not in it.

"It was a game we really wanted to win and one we should have won with the team I picked."

Goals from Ryan Flynn and Billy McKay put Oldham into the next round before Liam Mandeville's late penalty delivered a consolation for Rovers.

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FA Cup match report: Oldham Athletic 2 Doncaster Rovers 1

He said: "We can't keep conceding goals the way we are.

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"It's a really poor result. It was a good opportunity to get into the next round.

The goal on half time changes the game. It's unprofessional to lose a goal at 45 minutes. It's simply not good enough.

"Both goals we lost were really poor goals.

"I thought we started the game really well. The first 20 minutes we were really good.

"They got into it. Their right midfielder caused us problems and got too many crosses into the box.

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"But losing a goal at the time of the first is not good enough and that's the problem lately. We've conceded eight in three games - it's too many."

Rovers could only name five substitutes for the game with Niall Mason and Riccardo Calder ruled out through injury.

Ferguson confirmed Calder would have started in place of Harry Middleton, leading to his plans being disrupted.

He said: "It didn't help that two other players were ruled out when they turned up with illness today.

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"Jordan Houghton went home Friday ill. There's a bit of a bug going around.

"I couldn't pick any of the youth players to make up the bench because they'd already set off for Hartlepool for their game."

There were worrying scenes at the end of the game as Andy Butler slumped to the ground injured and was stretched off wearing a neck brace after lengthy treatment.

Ferguson said: "There's not much I can say at this point. He's taken a really bad knee to his spine so the doctor's just assessing him.

"He's in a lot of pain, a lot of pain. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."

"We lost our discipline after the second goal."