Doncaster Rovers 1-3 Plymouth Argyle

Doncaster Rovers 1-3 Plymouth Argyle

Sky Bet League One

Saturday 29th January 2022

Although Doncaster Rovers didn't perform too badly, this was a game which still ended in an all too familiar tale of defeat - something which has to change soon if a miraculous (albeit highly unlikely) 'Great Escape' is to materialise.

The game also saw the 1,000th goal in a competitive DRFC fixture at the Keepmoat/Eco-Power Stadium; scored by Joe Edwards which put Argyle ahead just past the hour mark.

Rovers could, and probably should, have achieved a result - especially after Branden Horton's opener put them ahead. They ought to have capitalised on Argyle's extremely sluggish start and put the ball in the back of the net on two or three occasions by the point where Luke Jephcott stabbed a shot past Louis Jones to equalise after Niall Ennis beat Oli Younger and delivered a teasing cut-back.

Even at 1-1, whilst the visitors were probing dangerously at one end, Donny had chances at the other - notably as Tommy Rowe had a goal disallowed for a debatable offside (which could have been Goal Number 1,000) and then, more glaringly, as Joseph Olowu somehow contrived to stab an effort over from only a couple of yards out with practically the last kick of what was an absorbing 45 minutes - described by some as the most entertaining they've seen this season.

And even at 2-1 down - despite a few comments that heads went down, Rovers still conjured up some decent chances as one effort ricocheted just over the target within a minute of the re-start following Plymouth's second goal, whilst Tommy Rowe struck a post when his vicious attempt could just as easily have ended up in the back of the net instead.

Granted though, when Jordon Garrick made it 3-1 with less than a quarter-of-an-hour to go, that was it - and a good performance again resulted in zero points and one less game to play in the bid for survival.

As the old adage goes: 'When you're down at the bottom, you just don't get lucky breaks' and that statement, to some extent, fits well with the story of this game - though there can't be any denying that Plymouth are a good team (better than I expected them to be) who have credentials to not only achieve a Play-Off spot, but to also give Chelsea a run for their money in their FA Cup meeting tie next Saturday.

Argyle's transitions and movement of the ball was a pleasure to watch. They had lots of energy and rhythm, worked the ball out wide quickly, used the width on several occasions to get in-behind and deliver cut-backs which caused danger, pressed well, and they're a very good team. Jordan Houghton, Niall Ennis and Connor Grant (three players who've ironically been at DRFC in the past) all put in good displays, they had three different goalscorers and Leyland's finest ever sportsman - and the most down to earth bloke on the planet, Danny Mayor, added a different dimension to their attack when he came on for the second half.

That said, the efforts from those wearing red were certainly appreciated by many fans in the West Stand who stood and applauded the team off the pitch at half-time. That kind of support is needed over the remaining 18 games, just as much as the type of performance (albeit with better finishing) has to be replicated too, but the good aspects of the performance is testament to the hard-work and dedication that Gary McSheffrey has put in to rebuild, repair and reshape the team in recent weeks.

With the tough run of fixtures ahead - including facing two of the top three in the next seven days, it's hard to envisage where points are going to come from in the immediate-term, but whatever people think of the board of directors at the club and their 'commitment' towards Doncaster Rovers, nobody can deny this team is in a better shape now than it's been at any point for several months - and certainly than it was at any point under Richie Wellens' reign.

Despite the likelihood being that too much irrecoverable damage has already been done in terms of the points deficit (and the blame for that lies with the previous manager), there are positives to be had - and if the new-look team can somehow claw back some of that 10-point deficit from safety prior to the game at AFC Wimbledon in February, maybe, just maybe, there is a glimmer of hope. That trip to Plough Lane already has all the hallmarks of a six-pointer and one where Rovers have to come out on top if they're going to pull off what would be a miraculous escape.

There's going to be games in the coming weeks, however, where things don't gel and the performance isn't great - and that'll be the case with nearly every team which has such a big turnover of players in a single season. Already, debuts for this term are already getting close to 1997/98 and 2011/12 numbers - both of which were traumatic and tumultuous seasons, but my hope is the majority of fans are able to see the bigger picture, see the positives, see the identity which Gary McSheffrey is trying to create and buy into the project regardless of whether the battle to stay in League One ends in success or failure.

With Omar Bogle (a top guy who was brilliant with the Under 18s during the whole 'exiled' episode) having now joined Hartlepool United, Tiago Cukur back at Watford, and Jordy Hiwula out of the picture at present, it's a shame some of the 'boo boys' have turned their attentions towards Louis Jones and want to pick fault with every goal he concedes, every clearance he makes and every decision he makes.

Some criticism for every player is justified; some of it is ridiculous at times and the lads as a whole need, and deserve, fans' support. Deriding individuals will achieve nothing good.

I'm certain the players appreciated the half-time applause and a positive, noisy, encouraging and passionate environment with no squawking is the way to success - and that type of uplifting atmosphere will no doubt make things harder for the opposition in the 'must win' home games that are coming up!