'The first half just wasn’t us' - Darren Moore on Doncaster Rovers' night and day performance against Blackpool

Darren Moore said he did not recognise his Doncaster Rovers team during the first half of their remarkable win over Blackpool.
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Rovers fell two goals down to the on-form visitors after an incredibly off colour performance where they were ponderous and sloppy in possession.

But they roared back in the second half to level inside the first seven minutes before going on to win the game with a much improved performance.

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And Moore was delighted with the determination his players showed to get ahead and hold onto their lead.

Darren Moore shows the tension during the clash with Blackpool. Picture: Howard RoeDarren Moore shows the tension during the clash with Blackpool. Picture: Howard Roe
Darren Moore shows the tension during the clash with Blackpool. Picture: Howard Roe

“I’m not sure if it’s the most disappointed I’ve been but it’s certainly up there,” Moore said.

“There was no urgency to us with it. You can’t play the game of football nowadays like that really and expect anything out of it.

“It’s not just from the back, it’s individuals on the ball moving it with a purpose. I just thought that was lacking from us.

“We needed a reaction and we got that in the second half.

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“Watch it, we were much more like us for the 45 minutes and showed what the team is about.

“We put them on the back foot and they struggled with that over the first ten minutes, and then the ascendency was with us.

“The character, the will and desire to get that third goal, I could hear it on the pitch from the team. It was about getting bodies in the box.

“Matt has got in there, the lad’s brought him down and Ben’s done what Ben’s done and put the ball in the back of the net.

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“Then it was about maintaining focus and concentration because we knew they’d put the ball on us and they did that. Everyone to a man did their job off the ball.

“The first half just wasn’t us.”

Blackpool felt they should have received a late penalty after claiming Brad Halliday handled in the box but Moore felt there was little in the incident.

He said: “There were a lot of screams for handball but from my point of view, Brad controlled it and played it up the pitch. It is what it is.”

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