Maturity, managerial mastery, depth and more taking points from Doncaster Rovers excellent win at Portsmouth

A year ago the group struggled when an opposition did their damndest to prevent them from having things their own way. It took several months for them to muster what was required to be able fight for supremacy in a match.

Just when it appeared similar concerns were arising with the refurbished Rovers squad, they demonstrated the extent to which they have developed over the last 12 months.

Anyone thinking Saturday’s clash at Portsmouth was heading in a similar direction to the previous two matches at Athletics Wigan and Oldham could have been forgiven.

The pattern was similar. Rovers, much the stronger side in the first half, lacking the goal to make their dominance count, found themselves up against it in the second.

But where they wilted and struggled in recent weeks and those in the back end of 2019, here they stood strong, resolute, composed and competitive.

They remained firmly in the game, did not look like being breached and took their one golden opportunity with a stroke of real quality from Reece James.

With familiar questions asked, Rovers found the answers in the best possible way.

For all the superb, thrilling attacking football that they have delivered so far this season, Saturday’s show of steel was arguably the most pleasing of all.

STORY Of THE GAME

Rovers started the stronger and produced some slick passing play to push themselves up the pitch quickly.

Portsmouth succeeded in inviting them on, putting no pressure on Rovers in their own half and allowing the centre halves to pick their passes to put the visitors on the front foot.

What the hosts did do well is get plenty of bodies between ball and goal, ensuring that while Rovers threaded through some wonderful passes, there was rarely a clear sight of goal.

Madger Gomes played one such pass to put Fejiri Okenabirhie in behind the Portsmouth defence but impressive goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray was quickly out to block before the striker managed to get a shot away.

A manager of the experience and nous of Kenny Jackett was never likely to allow the game to continue in such a one sided manner without taking action.

And he instructed his side to press harder, to play higher up the pitch and deny Rovers the space they were relishing.

It brought Portsmouth into the game for the first real period after the half hour mark and they finished the half the stronger, without fully troubling Josef Bursik.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair with both sides enjoying decent spells. But goalmouth action continued to be lacking.

Then came the breakthrough.

Ben Whiteman - who had maintained a grasp on the middle of the park throughout even the trickier moments for Rovers - played a wonderful long pass out wide to find debutant Josh Sims in acres of space.

The winger advanced towards goal and squared to the edge of the box, where James met it with his back to goal, turned and curled into the top corner.

It was enough for resilient Rovers who made Portsmouth look toothless, particularly having lost Ellis Harrison to injury.

CREDIT TO THE MAN IN CHARGE

There was a degree of bafflement among the Rovers support when the team was announced - chiefly in James’ positioning on the left of midfield.

Boss Darren Moore can regularly be heard talking about ‘horses for courses’ and has thought outside the box on numerous occasions previously when lining his side up.

His hand may have been forced slightly with Saturday’s game coming a little too soon for the returning Jason Lokilo, while Sims had barely got through the door on Friday before walking back out to head to Portsmouth.

But there was more depth to the thought behind fielding James on the left of midfield.

He added a resolute edge to the attacking ranks, offered plenty of support to Cameron John and was neat and tidy on the ball.

It worked well. Very well. Particularly when his superb goal was added into the mix.

The finish, curled into the top corner after turning was excellent. Arguably better was the manner in which he stunted his run in order to be free to meet Sims’ fine square pass.

Moore’s selection certainly paid off and helped Rovers answer some of the issues that had arisen in recent weeks.

But his decisions within the game were vital to getting the win. Chiefly, his substitutions.

Sims’ introduction was forced by a stomach upset suffered by Jon Taylor. But the game was crying out for an injection of the winger’s explosiveness and he made an impressive bow in Rovers’ colours.

But the biggest impact came from Taylor Richards. His physicality and in-your-face battling qualities were key to Rovers wrestling their way back into the game and disrupting Portsmouth’s flow.

Moore deserves plenty of credit for how he shaped the game.

DEPTH, REAL DEPTH

It helped the boss’ cause that he had real game-changing options on the bench.

One glance at the list of substitutes offered much greater assurance that Rovers have the depth they will need to last the course in League One this season. Even more so with Tyreece John-Jules and Rayhaan Tulloch still to come.

The transfer window has been good for Rovers, and the deadline day addition of Sims and Matt Smith, who also made an albeit brief debut off the bench, added the depth that the squad required.

Rovers look in good shape.

TEAMS

PORTSMOUTH: MacGillivray; Johnson, Whatmough, Raggett, Brown, Naylor, Close (Williams 81), Harness, Cannon, Curtis (Jacobs 59), Harrison (Marquis 63). Subs: Bass, Nicolaisen, Pring, Morris, Williams.

ROVERS: Bursik; Halliday, Wright, Anderson, John; Whiteman, Gomes; Taylor (Sims 64), Coppinger (Richards 64), James; Okenabirhie (Smith 90). Subs: Jones, Butler, Williams, Lokilo.

REF: Brett Huxtable (Devon)

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