How Doncaster Rovers used extra time after Blackpool wash-out

Rovers had arrived at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday only to discover a waterlogged pitch, with the game called off an hour before kick-off, making for a wasted journey across the Pennines.

Spotting the opportunity for extra time on the training ground, Moore arranged a behind-closed-doors game with neighbour Scunthorpe United on Wednesday to give some time on the pitch for those who have had little in recent weeks.

“We had an in-house game here and Neil Cox was really good to bring a team over from Scunthorpe,” Moore said.

“We wanted to give some of the fringe players 90 minutes of football.

“And on Thursday we got in and trained with the full group.

“We give people volume and minutes this week rather than having the disappointment of the game not going ahead, we used it to get some work done on matters in the team we want to address going forward.

“Andy Butler, Madger Gomes, Jason Lokilo, Elliot Simoes, AJ Greaves, Danny Amos, Louis Jones, Fej Okenabirhie - a good level of seniors and the younger players to get some minutes under their belts.

“With us not having an U23s and the National League clubs closing down we’ve struggled to get the game time these lads need.

“It was a great work out.”

The match was Rovers’ first behind-closed-doors game this season with Covid-19 restrictions making arranging such practice fixtures very difficult, while the absence of an U23s group at the club has taken away another option for giving squad players minutes.

Also joining in Wednesday’s game were returning loanees Lirak Hasani and Charlie Seaman, who are back with the club following the cancellations of the National League North and South divisions.

“They had the game and I spoke to them both on Thursday,” Moore said.

“Both of them have come back in great nick. They had a recovery session on Thursday after playing in the game.

“They’ll join back up with the squad and they’ll continue to train and integrate them back into us. We’ll work with them from Friday onwards.”

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