Darren Moore praises battling spirit of Doncaster Rovers in defeat to Sunderland

Moore was disappointed with his side’s start as they failed to close down former loanee Lynden Gooch, who curled a wonderful effort in after just six minutes.

But he felt his side then got to grips with the game, paving the way for them to equalise through Jon Taylor who latched onto a low Kieran Sadlier cross, five minutes before the break.

Chris Maguire slammed in from just inside the box to put Sunderland back in front on the hour and the Black Cats saw out the game.

“You don’t give a team like them a goal inside five minutes so I was disappointed with that,” Moore said.

“But I was massively happy with the way we got back into the game because it was a difficult game.

“The boys showed their character in getting back on level terms after 40 minutes to come in at half time with the game all-square.

"With the way Sunderland started with their momentum, I felt we quelled their pressure and the pendulum swung and we got back into it.

"The second half, Sunderland started on the front foot and got the break.

“We tried, we huffed and puffed and had a couple of chances. We just couldn't capitalise and get the second equaliser I always fancied us to get.”

Moore felt Sunderland’s Alim Ozturk should have been dismissed for a deliberate hand ball as Rovers looked to break in search of a second equaliser.