Doncaster Rovers review of the season - Derby joy, rotten runs, Bailey's heroics and chicken dances

Here, the Free Press dishes out its own awards as we look back at the 2025-26 season:

Player of the season

Owen Bailey. Who else?

In his first season since taking on the armband, the 'Geordie Rodri' has excelled and added goals - and plenty of them - to his game. The fact that he played every single of the season in the league says it all. He's dependable, robust and leads by example.

It remains to be seen if anyone tries Rovers' resolve over the summer but if they do, the club are in a good position in terms of being able to command a sizeable fee.

A notable mention here, too, for Luke Molyneux - who after an admittedly slow start enjoyed another fine campaign with 15 goal contributions in the league. That's some tally considering he was carrying a double hernia for the majority of the season. Robbie Gotts and Jack Senior also dazzled in the second half of the season.

Goal of the season

Elliot Lee's goal away at Plymouth in March will take some beating. George Broadbent's classy strike at Northampton towards the end of the season was also a lovely strike.

Best Performance

The Carabao Cup win away at Middlesbrough in the early throes of the campaign was as good a cup result and performance as Rovers have posted in a long, long time. In terms of the league, McCann said ample times that Rovers never really posted a dominant 90-minute performance - hence the slender nature of most of their league wins.

In terms of grit, though, the comeback win at Rotherham gets the nod from us. Rovers roared back to end a long, long winless run at the home of their bitter South Yorkshire rivals and the celebrations that day were epic in the away end. A notable mention, too, for the goalless draw at Bolton in mid-March where Rovers dug in and posted an excellent defensive display to nullify a team that was at the time still in the running for automatic promotion.

Best moment

The win at Peterborough on the final day. Billy Sharp's last dance with Rovers didn't disappoint as the veteran stole the show and grabbed a swansong hat-trick. Each goal was celebrated with unbridled joy not only in the away end but in the dugout, too. And for a split second many of a red-and-white persuasion thought Sharp had done the unthinkable when he notched what many thought was his fourth of the game for a 300th career strike. Sadly, the assistant referee had other ideas.

The atmosphere among the sold-out support showed they are right behind McCann and his players and they serenaded them long after the final whistle had been blown. More than a few of the players and staff were visibly emotional.

Worst Performance

Exeter away, on Easter Monday, was pretty grim but you'll struggle to find a more sobering afternoon than the 5-1 collapse at home to Plymouth in mid-December. Rovers actually took the lead but completely collapsed as Plymouth ran riot and filled their boots. The full-time picture was pretty depressing with only a handful of home fans remaining amid grey, doomy weather and Rovers second-bottom at Christmas. That was probably as low as it got, but credit to McCann and his players for turning it around in the New Year.

Best signing

Robbie Gotts surely earns this title. The midfielder endured a tough first few months but from Stockport onwards, in-between Christmas and New Year, he became one of the first names on the teamsheet thanks to stellar performances in the engine room. In terms of the January arrivals, loanee Neill Byrne added real steel at the back - much-needed at the time of his arrival and vital in aiding Rovers' move up away from danger.

Biggest flop

Toyosi Olusanya. A bizarre transaction that returned zilch in terms of goal output or anything remotely positive. The streets won't forget his botched attempt when put through at Luton by Jordan Gibson. He left with 0 goal involvements in his few appearances and it's no coincidence his lack of killer touch has now followed him to Aberdeen. No exaggeration to say he may be right up there with one of the worst signings the club has ever made.

To a lesser extent, Charlie Crew is another who under-performed hugely - especially when you consider how his first spell at the club went.

Best individual performance

Billy Sharp's last act as a Rovers player will take some beating.

With 45 minutes of his time at the club left, the 40-year-old turned into a man possessed. He scored three (almost four) and was the man who his teammates looked for at every single opportunity. It was a fitting way for him to end his time at the club as he showed his class.

Notable mention for other individual showings, such as Robbie Gotts' outstanding display away at Bolton and Jordan Gibson's customary starring role in the early-season win over his old club Bradford.

Best opposition performance

Lorent Tolaj's hat-trick for Plymouth in December was one of two scored against Rovers this season. The other came in October when Dom Ballard stole the show in a 4-0 win for Leyton Orient. Both were superb, sadly for Rovers, but Ballard's showing just shades it. He was outstanding that day in the capital. Other opposing players who caught the eye included Exeter's Jayden Wareham, Lincoln's Ben House and Stockport's Kyle Wootton.

Picture of the season

Billy Sharp's chicken dance celebration vs Bradford will take some beating. That said, the image of a bloodied Harry Clifton punching the air in celebration after Rotherham was also iconic.

Best away ground

Easy one, this. Tottenham Hotspur. It’s like being in a spaceship with top-notch views, facilities and (most importantly) press food. Little did we know at the time of their straightforward September Carabao Cup win over Rovers just how bad Spurs would be this season, mind.

Worst away ground

Stevenage and Burton are both no-frills, pretty soulless grounds. And whilst Luton's Kenilworth Road is outdated and a bit of a relic, at least it has some character about it.

What I'll remember this season for

Three things really. Bailey's glut of goals, that wretched winter run and then the complete turnaround once the New Year arrived. There's been ups and downs, but when you look at how the other clubs across the patch got on in 2025-26, Rovers fans can say they had it pretty good. And, crucially, there's plenty to look forward to heading into the next one.