Darren Moore keen to address 'mental capacity' of Doncaster Rovers after latest defeat

In almost mirroring the pattern of their loss at Wigan Athletic a few days earlier, Rovers dominated the first half but could not convert their chances before the hosts improved and punished costly mistakes to win the game.

Moore says his players must find a way to persist with their approach throughout the game and not drop off when the goals do not come.

“When I look back on Saturday’s game it was a very similar type of game,” Moore said.

“We played really well in the first half, really set about them, created some wonderful chances.

“But the final touch eluded us again.

“In the second half, Oldham grew into the game, got among us a bit more and again individual mistakes cost us the game in the end.

“It’s one for us to look at.

“The two games over the last four or five days have been replicas in terms of how they have gone.

“It’s looking at the dynamics of the game, the mental capacity of the team when the games go like that to stay disciplined and stay with the way they are going.

“That’s the big thing that I’m looking at with the mental capacity as it’s gone on, both individually and collectively and why it’s dropped off in that manner.

“Sometimes you need those answers sooner because we created enough to see the game out and we’ve not managed to do that.

“Just because you’ve not scored the goal, it doesn’t mean you stop what you’re doing.

“In both games, for whatever reason we’ve stopped what we’re doing and almost allowed the opposition to grow into the game.

“It’s baffling at the moment but it’s something I’ll identify over these next ten days and work hard to put it right.”

The victory took Oldham into the knockout stage of the EFL Trophy with Rovers level on points with both Bradford City and Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s in the battle for the second spot.

Rovers host Wolves in the competition next month.

*

Thank you to all who support local journalism with a print subscription.

The events of 2020 mean trusted, local journalism is more reliant than ever on your support.

We couldn't do it without you.

Please subscribe here https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/ so we can keep campaigning on your behalf.

Stay safe.