Hard work pays of for Doncaster Rovers according to Joe Wright

Rovers enjoyed a ten day period without a match after postponing the clash with Shrewsbury Town due to a combination of international call-ups and injuries.

Manager Darren Moore used the time to work the group hard on the training ground, drilling into them the details behind his methods.

After they showed a steely edge in their 1-0 triumph at Fratton Park on Saturday, Wright feels Rovers demonstrated just how much they put the time to good use ahead of a hectic period of matches.

“The gaffer and Sivvy [Jamie Smith, assistant manager] really stepped up training in that period,” Wright told the Free Press.

“We worked at a much faster tempo and the stuff the gaffer and Sivvy drilled into us over those ten days has really benefited us and we’ve come out of the other side much stronger.”

Wright felt Rovers demonstrated a resolute streak on Saturday after failing to carry through excellent performances from first halves to seconds in their previous two fixtures.

He said: “As a team we knew there wasn’t really a big issue and it was just unfortunate that it came in two games in a row where we put really strong first half performances in and then didn’t match that in the second half.

“But on Saturday in the first half we were dominant and the second we showed a different side to ourselves where we can be resilient. And the goal that Jamo scored on the counter was brilliant.”

Rovers host an Ipswich Town side on Tuesday night that have dropped only two points in their opening six matches and conceded only twice.

Wright feels confidence is high in the Rovers camp following Saturday’s impressive win and they will be unfazed by the challenge Paul Lambert’s side will pose.

“They’ve started really well, as the table shows,” he said.

“It’s two tough games in a row. We’ve boxed off the first one and we’ll be looking to do the same again on Tuesday.

“I think the performance on Saturday showed another side of us and it’s filled us with confidence going into the next fixture.”

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