Saturday Night Takeaway: Doncaster Rovers fail to heed Moore's message in defeat at Wigan Athletic

It may have seemed a little harsh when Darren Moore criticised his players for a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal during a 4-1 win.
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But the words of the Doncaster Rovers boss echoed on a week after their excellent victory over Bristol Rovers as the issue he had highlighted proved to be their undoing and cost them their unbeaten record in League One.

There were times in the first half when Rovers were sensational against Wigan Athletic. They dominated possession, moved the ball with accuracy and grace and consistently found space in the opposition half.

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But as they reached half time without having opened the scoring, there was the nagging doubt over how much control they would be able to exert after the break.

Taylor Richards shows his frustration as he is shown a yellow card against Wigan. Picture: Steve Flynn/AHPIXTaylor Richards shows his frustration as he is shown a yellow card against Wigan. Picture: Steve Flynn/AHPIX
Taylor Richards shows his frustration as he is shown a yellow card against Wigan. Picture: Steve Flynn/AHPIX

It had all been so, so good up until 20 yards from goal, when the clinical touch, the element of composure and bloodymindedness went missing. And it proved costly.

Wigan emerged stronger, determined not to provide Rovers with the space they so relished in the first half and also to push forward themselves.

And Rovers were undoubtedly unsettled, and certainly rattled at times, even before Joe Garner guided home a Viv Solomon-Otabor cross for the most basic example of a headed goal you could ever wish to see.

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Wigan themselves were never overwhelmingly threatening and hardly showed signs of being capable of putting the game out of sight.

But as composure evaded Rovers, so did their threat and there was never the feeling that they were capable of fighting their way back into the game.

It was a disappointing end to a dreary, rain-sodden day in Lancashire. One which started so brightly with some magnificent play led by a skipper in Ben Whiteman at the peak of his powers only to end with the captain and his team mates well and truly neutered.

And it was a disappointing end to the unbeaten start to the league campaign, hammering home the message that Rovers are indeed a work in progress.

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There is work to be done - and the message is clear from the gaffer over where it needs to be done the most.

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