Answering questions, important team talks and THAT Christmas opportunity - talking points from Doncaster Rovers' win at Burton Albion
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A 3-1 triumph at bottom side Burton Albion was the fourth successive victory for Darren Moore’s side and continued their powerful run up the table.
Here, we look at some of the big talking points from the game.
ACTION
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Hide AdFejiri Okenabirhie put Rovers ahead after nine minutes when he darted into the box to meet a cutback from the byline by Cameron John.
The move had been started by a sublime pass from Taylor Richards, who went on to bring down Burton’s Joe Powell with a sloppy challenge, allowing Lucas Akins to equalise from the spot just before half time.
But Rovers would have the final say of the half, when Okenabirhie was wrestled down by Michael Bostwick and Ben Whiteman confidently struck home the penalty.
Richards atoned for his penalty concession in superb fashion as he curled home Rovers’ third from 20 yards just before the hour mark to effectively end the game as a contest.
ANSWERING QUESTIONS
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Hide AdIt may not have been the most entertaining or the most sparking performance from Rovers but the crux of it was much more important than anything eye-pleasing could have been.
And it was another occasion where they have answered the big questions that have been posed about their credentials for a promotion push this season.
The biggest? How do they deal with teams seeking to stop them from playing?
Over the last week they have faced three matches against three oppositions all seeking to do that with varying approaches.
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Hide AdAgainst Gillingham, it was all about movement off the ball which dragged the visitors out of their defensive shape and left them there for the taking.
Against Swindon Town, it came down initially to patience on the ball and then incisiveness on the counter.
In this test at Burton, it was a bit of both.
Burton worked incredibly hard to deny Rovers space in the midfield.
But Moore’s side kept plugging away, with Matt Smith in particular coming to the fore with his close control and quick movement of the ball.
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Hide AdThey answered the ruthlessness question too - grabbing important goals at important times to ensure they maintained control even when the game was wide open at the start of the second half.
Arguably the most pleasing was the complete absence of a drop in concentration and tempo.
There have not been many occasions this season where Rovers have gone through a rough spell in a game after getting a little complacent.
This did not happen at all, and their constant breaking down of Burton’s attacking moves before they even began in the second half served to further drain the hosts’ confidence.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HALF TIME
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Hide AdOn many occasions this season we have seen Rovers emerge a different prospect after the break.
The need for considerable improvement in the second half was not as stark as it had been in previous matches but there were a few Rovers players who were slightly off the pace during the opening 45 minutes.
A quickening of tempo and thought was required after some passages of play ended up suiting the energetic press of Burton.
And, whatever was said in the dressing room by Moore and Jamie Smith paid off, with a noticeable increase in verve after the break.
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Hide AdRichards was perhaps the most noticeable, before and after his sublime goal.
And it underlined the validity of half time messages, and how receptive the players are to them.
THE START OF CHANGE?
Four changes - only one enforced - between league matches is not something we have come to expect from Moore, even in the most demanding of seasons.
And while ‘horses for courses’ continues to take priority for the Rovers boss, the demands of the fixture list and the toll on his players’ bodies is increasingly significant.
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Hide AdJason Lokilo and Lirak Hasani were both handed rare time on the pitch in the second half.
And you can bet it will not be so rare over the next few weeks.
Moore had plenty of players to choose from when it came to who to allow some time to rest, as a few were noticeably tiring towards the end of the game - skipper Ben Whiteman in particular.
THE NARRATIVE-PLEASING BATTLE
It was great to see former Wolves - and, of course, Rovers - team mates Cameron John and Niall Ennis pitted against each other in direct competition.
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Hide AdEnnis lined up on the right for Burton, putting him face to face with his good friend John who returned for Rovers at left back.
Even better to see was John consistently getting the better of the battle.
His development as a full back continues, particularly defensively, but this was an example of how quick that progress has been.
He dealt with a tough test in a variety of ways, showing strength, composure and positional smarts to rarely let Ennis get the upper hand.
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Hide AdAnd that is before you consider his own attacking qualities, as he displayed with his part in Okenabirhie’s early goal.
DARING TO DREAM
The fact will not have escaped any Rovers fan. Win on Tuesday night and it is top spot for Christmas.
In this most taxing of years, what a present that would be.
But even the possibility of waking up on Christmas Day with Rovers leading League One represents a great deal of progress in a short space of time.
They are answering questions, riding through tricky tests and sharing the load across the team.
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Hide AdBut, not playing the Ebenezer Scrooge act, ultimately being top after 18 matches does not really matter.
Being well and truly in the promotion mix at that point has much greater significance.
And, regardless of the result against a resurgent Shrewsbury Town, Doncaster Rovers are well and truly in the promotion mix.
Merry Christmas.