Glenn Middleton on Doncaster Rovers' dressing room leaders, derby heroics + his long-term view
Glenn Middleton was one of three Doncaster Rovers players who helped flip the game on its head in the come-from-behind win at Rotherham United.
The Scot, along with Harry Clifton and Brandon Hanlan, was summoned from the bench at half-time with Grant McCann's side trailing to their fierce South Yorkshire rivals. But it didn't take the visitors long to bounce back after the triple change. Middleton's excellent run and pick-out for Hanlan saw him fire home a worthy equaliser before Luke Molyneux scored what proved to be the decisive goal not long after.
"It was a really enjoyable day out for everyone involved," Middleton reflected, after Rovers' first win in Rotherham since 1985. "If you can't enjoy a derby win like that then you're not going to enjoy many games!
"We knew we weren't quite at it first half. But second half we really imposed ourselves and took it to them. I just tried to be direct as possible whenever I can get the ball and luckily it paid off."
Middleton says that the strong leadership group at Rovers means nobody lost their heads at the interval: "The leaders we have in the group made sure that at half-time we stayed patient. It was about doing that until we got the first goal. We were playing towards the fans too, which always helps. But I think as soon as that equaliser went in, it's fair to say there was only going to be one winner."
For Middleton, this represented a superb performance - arguably his best contribution of the season - and came just four days after missing out on the squad altogether for the win over Huddersfield. The former Dundee United man has started just nine league games since his summer switch and whilst he admits that is frustrating, he insists he is taking a longer-term view of the situation. He told the Free Press: "I'm not going to lie, it's tough at times when things don't go your way. But you've got a squad where everyone is trying to achieve the same thing.
"It's probably the most I've been pushed every day in terms of intensity. When you do get those moments of frustration (like missing out on the squad) then it's about taking a step back and looking at your long-term goal. Because you want to be part of a successful team. It's about doing the right things every day so that you're ready to take your chances when they come."
Rovers have a blank midweek before hosting Cardiff City next Saturday. Then comes a stacked March, with eight games sandwiched into just 26 days.