Midweek Takeaway: It's deja vu all over again as Doncaster Rovers slump to defeat at Oldham Athletic

But when it involves a like-for-like repeat of the issues of the previous league game, then the concern begins to settle in.

Rovers’ 2-0 defeat at Oldham Athletic could not have been more like the 1-0 loss at Wigan Athletic four days earlier if it tried.

A first half which brought dominance of the ball, some wonderful passing play and attacking aggression also delivered no goals.

And having wasted opportunities before the break, after it the tempo dropped, the opposition were encouraged forward and two goals were conceded that could so easily have been prevented.

Deja vu all over again.

Rovers were not quite at it to the same extent as they were in the first half at Wigan and Oldham’s efforts to fill space with bodies played into that fact.

But the visitors to Boundary Park did produce some excellent football at times to find the gaps, with passes threaded through the eyes of needles.

Again, just as a few days earlier, the quality and incisiveness evaporated 20 yards from goal.

Only when Tyreece John-Jules met a James Coppinger corner with a bullet header was Ian Lawlor - given permission to play by Rovers for the club at which he is on loan - truly tested.

Other than that chances were snatched at or blazed over the bar as the killer touch continued to evade them.

After a break in which Oldham were given the opportunity to reset, the pattern of the game changed. The hosts played higher up the pitch, stopping Rovers’ flow deep into their territory and seeing them threaten.

And they took the lead when Louis Jones - who had produced some excellent stops - failed to keep out a long range free kick from Danny Rowe.

It got worse when lively substitute Zach Dearnley weaved his way through a flatfooted defence after possession was conceded cheaply and then lashed home.

Defeat means Rovers have it all to do to make it through in the competition.

But they have even more to do over the next ten days to right the wrongs of the last four.

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