Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann reflects on Bolton draw, 'very lucky goal' + Broadbent injury
Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann believes his side did enough to get all three points against high-flying Bolton Wanderers.
Rovers had to make do with a share of the spoils on New Year's Day, although the draw does at least end a five-game losing streak. After a goalless first half, Glenn Middleton notched his first goal in Rovers colours only for two of Bolton substitutes to combine: Amario Cozier-Duberry teeing up Kyle Dempsey who scored from close-range, albeit with a fortuitous, scuffed strike.
Speaking post-match, the Northern Irishman said: "I thought we did enough to win the game.
"But unfortunately we're not getting that second goal that's giving us an opportunity to go and win the game, which leaves us on edge a wee bit. And then we concede off a very lucky goal. And that's just where we are at this moment in time. It's come off the back of Dempsey's heel and scooped over Ian (Lawlor). I don't think if you hit him 100 balls he couldn't do that. And unfortunately that's where we are.
"We didn't take the opportunities in the first half to put ourselves in a position. We take the one in the second half from Glenn, other opportunities and chances to get the second and we don't quite get it and then unfortunately we concede that soft goal.
"I think for 90 minutes we were at it against a really good Bolton team. A team that's going to be in that promotion mix for sure towards the end of the season. Overall it was a really good performance and I think we made them change their game a little bit today which is a bit of a positive and plus for us really. The games we've seen them they were more of a possession-based team and I thought they went a little bit direct today."
McCann added: "The performance was good but it's wins that matter now. At this stage of the season we need to start winning games."
Midfielder George Broadbent departed the action midway through the first half and providing an update post-match McCann told the Free Press: "It looks like it's his hip flexor. It's nothing that he's pulled running. It's just a dead sort of hip flexor."
Meanwhile, McCann says he is expecting to find out more news on Ben Close before Sunday's home game with Luton. The midfielder suffered a suspected punctured/collapsed lung against Stockport last week.