Doncaster Rovers coach praises ex-Derby County debutant as he delivers Sean Grehan update
Cliff Byrne, Doncaster Rovers' assistant manager, was brimming with positivity after the team booked their place in the last-eight of the EFL Trophy.
Rovers, showing ten changes, never looked in danger against Fleetwood as a brace from Billy Sharp and a Hakeeb Adelakun strike sealed a 3-1 home win over Fleetwood. The win also saw Zander Clark and Darren Robinson make their full debuts after recently arriving from Hearts and Derby County respectively.
Looking back on a morale-boosting evening, Rovers' number two Byrne said: "We're pleased with the outcome in terms of getting into the next round and how we went about it was really pleasing.
"We looked a threat and tonight we capitalised on the many chances we created. Everyone contributed tonight. It was a full group effort, which we keep saying time and time again. It's a full group effort."
Robinson in particular earned warm words: "He's been in the building for a while and we're aware of his quality. He had a chance to showcase that tonight and I thought he was really capable and competent in there.
"He maybe brings a different dynamic to the midfield with a different type of skillset and that complimented what was on the pitch tonight which was good."
As for Sharp, who now has nine goals for the season, Byrne said: "Billy loves scoring goals and he's frustrated with himself when he doesn't score and that rubs off on the rest of the group. Tonight he went and got his two goals but is probably thinking he should have had a couple more and that's just the kind of player he is."
The only minor blot on Rovers' copybook was the sight of Sean Grehan going off after appearing to pick up a minor injury. "Sean just picked up a little bit of a knock," Byrne said. "With the nature of how the game was going, we felt it was the right call to take him off and not run the risk of doing any further damage."
Rovers travel to AFC Wimbledon in the league this weekend.