'Fine margins' - Grant McCann reacts to Doncaster Rovers' slender defeat to Bradford City

Rovers lost 1-0 in the lunchtime clash at Valley Parade with substitute Tyreik Wright's late volley ensuring all three points for the Bantams.

"I thought it was a close game," McCann reflected post-match. "I think we had the better chances in the first half. They had a couple of half-chances but I felt we defended everything they threw at us.

"We knew they're first in the league for long balls, so we knew we had to come here and defend. And we did, but the one moment that we don't, the one moment that we don't stop a cross from (Josh) Neuville or do a bit more to try and stop that cross, and the one moment we don't see the opposite wing-back, we've conceded.

"It's a tremendous finish. But we have to be better, though. We have to be better defending.

"I'm sure they'll (Bradford) be saying how good of a goal it was for them to score. If we’d have scored it, I'd have said the same thing. But from my point of view, I've got to look at the elements where we can get better. And we've got to stop that cross.

"Overall it was a pretty tight game and I'd have been disappointed stood here talking to you about a draw so I'm even more disappointed talking to you about a defeat. But ultimately, at this level, you need to stay switched on for 90, 95 minutes. It’s fine, fine margins.”

Goalscoring chances were at a premium in this Yorkshire derby although the hosts thought they had opened the scoring in the first half. New signing Kayden Jackson slid home from close range only for it to be quickly chalked out for handball. The decision eventually arrived after a couple of minutes of debating by the officials.

McCann said of the episode: "The rule changed two, three years ago where if there's a handball leading into a goal, then it gets ruled out. What amazes me, and probably why everyone in the stadium was so frustrated, is because they've got a linesman 12 yards away and a referee four or five yards away and they can't see it.

"That's where you get frustrated as a manager. That's where you end up getting yourself in trouble. Because you're just asking people to do their job. So I'm glad they got there (in the end)."