'We just ran out of legs': Darren Moore reflects on Doncaster Rovers' defeat to Blackburn Rovers

Rovers came from behind to lead in the Carabao Cup tie at Ewood Park but saw the game turned on its head again in the later stages to lose 3-2.

With Blackburn having completed the final nine games of the last Championship season a month ago, Moore predicted the hosts would have greater fitness and coherency than his side who had been without competitive action for almost six months.

And it proved to be, with Blackburn dominating the first half and then having the legs to grab the decisive goals in the later stages.

“There were certain things I saw that when the boys are fit and firing and the sharpness is there that we’ll be better at,” Moore said

“They will have taken a lot out of today’s game and matching a great team, Blackburn Rovers.

“We came here and set our stall out and I’m relatively pleased with what I saw.

“In the end I felt we just ran out of legs in terms of where we are.

“We always knew in the last 20 minutes that it was going to be a really tough battle.

“I think if we’d been able to hold onto the lead for another five minutes then we get into our shape defensively and make it harder for them.

“I’ve got no complaints with it.

“I just think we lost the game because we’re not quite ready and where we should be.”

Rovers were much improved in the second half and Moore said the message at the break had been to take opportunities to establish possession.

“We knew we would get opportunities for us to get the foot on the ball and for us to start working on our patterns,” he said.

“We went through a strong spell and scored goals to give us that lift. We had one or two half chances where we could have been more clinical.

“But I’m not going to complain because it’s just where we are.”

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