Darren Moore's delight for Doncaster Rovers as win at Swindon caps off a challenging week

Rovers saw captain Ben Whiteman switch to Preston North End before training was disrupted in the build-up to the game due to the heavy snow in Doncaster, which forced them to relocate to the West Midlands for Friday’s session.

A brace from Fejiri Okenabirhie sealed the win for Rovers, thought they were made to work when Swindon pulled a goal back through Hallam Hope in the second half and piled on the pressure.

But Moore was delighted with the efforts of his side after a challenging few days for the club.

“With what went on in the week off the pitch and all the talk around it, you can’t help have your mind and attention on that,” he said.

“Not to have training on Thursday was a bitter one for us because we work with real intent on the game ahead.

“We had to go to the Midlands to find a base to train and that we managed to do that was pleasing.

“We knew it was going to be a difficult game because they had a great result last week against Ipswich and they’ve made a lot of changes to the team, with some of those players on show.

“We knew we’d have to be very good and I thought we were.“We shocked them early doors with Fej’s goal, which knocked the stuffing out of them, but we knew they’d grow in confidence as the game wore on.

“It was pleasing to get the second goal just before half time to give us that lead.

“After half time we knew they’d come out and throw caution to the wind, which they did.

“But every man to a man played their part today.

“Apart from a chance for Matt Smith in the first half which he put past the post and the goal they scored, we dealt with a lot they had to throw at us so credit to the boys.”

Rovers were in complete command in the first half as they dominated possession and pushed Swindon ever-deeper.

Okenabirhie netted the first goal after five minutes and added another in first half stoppage time to make the control count on the scoreline.

But Swindon pushed hard for a way back into the game in the second half, and turned up the heat when Hope struck with 15 minutes remaining.

Moore felt his players could have controlled possession more after the break but was not too downhearted about the performance.

“I thought our decision-making when we had time to pick and choose a pass to alleviate pressure and when Swindon had come onto us, there were opportunities for us and I think we missed them,” he said.

“We got caught up in the game, and whether that was the lack of training since we came back from that enforced break, there was a lot of things that were a bit rusty with us when we got on the ball.

“But to counter that, I thought the off the ball work and when they work as hard as they did, that’s all you can ask of them.”

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