'I had a bit of a sore head with it' - Darren Moore on self-isolation, reflection, relaxation and watching Doncaster Rovers from a distance

The excitable Doncaster Rovers boss cannot be contained by the boundaries of his technical area and is often caught committing the cardinal sin of encroaching onto the pitch as he metaphorically kicks every ball and guides his side through matches.

So it is not hard to imagine Moore was a caged animal when forced into self-isolation for a fortnight - particularly when having to watch via TV as Rovers played matches in his absence.

Only, he insists not.

“I watched it in a relaxed manner,” he told the Free Press. “I was relaxed.

“I think the way they went about their business, I was seeing patterns of play about us that were very pleasing to see and an attitude about us that was excellent on the day.”

We may have to take his word for it - particularly given confinement in his flat for a fortnight, venturing out only for Covid tests when unsuccessfully attempting to avoid being recognised.

The situation meant, like thousands of Rovers supporters, Moore watched the 5-1 win over FC United of Manchester on the BBC, with his contact with the group on the day coming via analyst Alex Bailey.

“It was good,” he said. “It was different.

“It’s incredible thinking ‘here I am as Doncaster Rovers manager and I’m preparing to watch my team on TV.’ It doesn’t quite make sense.

“You’re picking up the phone to speak to the analyst who is at the game and you’re not seeing the incidents that he’s just seen until 40 seconds later.

“He’s telling me about a bad tackle and I’m asking when did that happen and he’s saying you haven’t seen it yet.

“That was strange. It was a new experience. In my 30-odd years it was a new one for me.

“Just when you think football has taught you a lot, it teaches you something else like we’re all experiencing at the moment with the Covid situation.

“But I was proud and honoured to see the team perform that way in a game that was live on TV when people are looking for those giant killings.”

Moore was forced into a period of self-isolation along with senior coaches Jamie Smith and Paul Gerrard after coming into contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 during the trip to AFC Wimbledon.

It not only robbed Moore of the ability to manage his side in two matches, it also denied him the chance for the time on the training ground with the players he craves during the current international break.

“A big negative for me has been missing a ten day window where I could have got some real work into them,” he said.

“I really look forward to these breaks when I can get good messages into the players.

“Andy [Butler] stepped in and did a marvellous job, aided by the players and the culture of the club and I thank them for that.

“But, from a personal point of view, I felt it was a missed opportunity to get some good work into the players and further strengthen what we’re about and who we are.

“It was frustrating.

“But the time has also allowed one or two to nurse a few knocks and mentally have a break from the busy schedule we’ve had.

“It was important. When you’ve been on the road to Charlton, Portsmouth, Plymouth and you're on the coach for six or seven hours, the mental side of things can be tiring.

“To miss those ten or 12 days of good work time, I did have a little bit of a sore head with it.

“The number one priority has got to be the health and safety of not only yourself but everyone you come into contact with.”

Moore was full of praise for the work of Andy Butler, who took charge of the squad during his absence - and even managed to fit in his first playing appearance of the season in the Papa John’s Trophy against Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s.

“Andy has been absolutely superb,” Moore said.

“He’s had to step in and as well as managing and coaching the team, he’s had to keep himself fit and physically ready, which is one of the hardest things to do.

“He’s done it over the course of two weeks and he’s played 90 minutes as well in a game against Wolverhampton where I was pleased to see him show his clear experience in terms of his positional sense, decision-making which was spot on.

“To have someone of Andy’s ilk was first class. He had to think on his feet really quickly.

“Credit to him and a personal thank you to him, the players and staff while we’ve been away.

“I missed them all. I missed the group and it was good to be back - it felt like the family was reunited.”

Moore’s has taken the opportunity to reflect on his side’s start to the season and look even more closely than usual on the matches that have been played so far.

And it has given him plenty of food for thought for when the busy schedule allows time on the training ground with his players.

“We’re ten games in so the league has settled down,” he said.

“All the games have been closely fought which I put down, maybe, to good decision making. “But lapses of concentration or not quite getting it right has seen us lose games or draw games.

“I think we need to work on them better as a team going forward.

“It’s not just a sole entity, it’s as a group going forward.

“What now happens is we look at those aspects and when it’s possible to work on it in training, you work on them.

“We’ll take those opportunities and we’ll work on those to implement it into the team and make us better.”

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.