'I won't accept that it's the league' - Darren Moore on the potential for strange results for Doncaster Rovers

Rovers ended what had been an excellent week with a 2-1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra following wins over Portsmouth and Ipswich Town.

Moore was asked if anything could be read into the fact his side has beaten two of League One’s leading sides but dropped points against lesser opposition.

And he responded by saying he is not concerned by the status of the opposing team, nor the circumstances surrounding a game.

“I’ll look into it and maybe it might suggest that’s the league,” he said. “But at the same time, I won’t accept that it’s the league.

“I just have to make sure that we’re doing everything professionally in order to get a result.

“Yes, the fixture list is going to come. Yes, that type of game is going to come where you’re playing game number three in a week.

“We know that game number three throws up different results. We know that.

“But I won’t just accept that’s the league. I will make sure that we are covering all bases in terms of getting a result, which we always do.

“That’s exactly what I’ll be looking at after this game.”

Moore felt his side deserved to take something from Saturday’s game, having created opportunities to draw level.

He said: “I just remember their goalkeeper pulling off a heroic save from Joe Wright’s header. I thought ‘goodness me.’

“I remember one coming across the face of goal for Fej [Okenbirhie] to just get the final touch.

“And I saw another chance with Fej over the bar.

“When I look at it I don’t get too concerned or worried because I can count three or four chances where we’re 2-1 down and just needing that final touch and ruthlessness.

“As a manager I really stay in the game because after, when I speak to the players, I want to know exactly what goes on with it.

“I’m always getting pulled back by the fourth official for encroaching on the pitch and it’s only because I’m inside the game and wanting to feel what the players are feeling.

“It was heroic defending by them and the final touch by us. So we move on.”

*

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.