Saturday Night Takeaway: A brilliant response to some tricky questions as Doncaster Rovers beat Portsmouth

Doncaster Rovers had been crying out for a touch of ruthlessness in front of goal over the previous three weeks but they found it when it mattered as they edged past Portsmouth.

And it came from the unlikely figure of Reece James, sitting on the edge of the box and finishing with the precision of a feet footed midfielder rather than a converted full back.

Such incisiveness 11 minutes from time was vital in a game of very few chances - certainly of the clear cut variety.

And after questions were asked of them in their last two outings, Rovers showed they do indeed have the answers.

They again started the game very brightly and were dominant in territory and possession terms for the opening 25 minutes.

But Portsmouth shifted their approach, stopped affording Rovers so much space and put the pressure on the ball much more.

It brought the hosts firmly into the game, and for lengthy periods they were on top. Again, without providing Josef Bursik with too much to think about.

In previous games, Rovers have struggled to stay competitive in such circumstances and seen their own efforts waned.

But they showed the benefit of ten days of work on the training ground - and a couple of timely and wise substitutions - during a tight second half that could have gone either way.

And when their first proper chance inside the box came, it was taken.

Ben Whiteman played a wonderful ball into space on the right. Debutant off the bench Josh Sims, powered through the space and squared to James just inside the area.

He received the ball with his back to goal, turned and curled into the top corner to give Craig MacGillivray no chance.

James’ performance reflected the dynamism of the Rovers side. Operating on the left of the attacking midfield three, he did not look at all out of place and was arguably the biggest threat for much of the game.

It was not a performance of the sort of overwhelming attacking threat that Rovers have shown at times in this young season.

But it was just the tonic to answer a few questions about their ability to challenge this term.

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Player ratings from win at Fratton Park

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