Grant McCann has blasted his Doncaster Rovers side as a poor showing against Mansfield Town brought to an end a five-game unbeaten run.
With three wins and a draw against promotion contenders Bolton Wanderers, Rovers had built enough momentum prior to their clash against the Stags to likely keep them in League One next season, but failed to increase their advantage over 21st-placed Exeter City on Good Friday.
McCann Bemoans Performance
In a fairly lacklustre performance for both sides, Mansfield managed to take their chances in a better second-half showing, giving them all three points on the day, enough to jump above their hosts and into the top half of the League One table.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post following the game, Grant McCann did not hold back in his verdict on his side’s performance at home.
“There’s no point in my sugar-coating it – they seemed to want to win that game more than we did. That’s not acceptable.
“For us to not take a shot at the goalkeeper all game, it’s embarrassing.
“We looked second best to Mansfield in the second half and they showed more heart and desire, which is not something that I’ve said a lot of times about my team since I’ve been at the football club but it was evident today.
“I said to the players afterwards that their body language was horrendous once they scored and that is not what we’re about.
“That was a horrendous performance from us, not good enough, and we were deservedly beat.”
Better Showing Needed At Exeter
It was a day to forget for Doncaster Rovers on Good Friday, with their tepid performance putting them at slight risk of falling back into the relegation conversation.
Their lack of threat up front gave Mansfield Town keeper Liam Roberts probably the easiest day of his career so far, and once Mansfield took the lead through Rhys Oates after the restart, there were no signs that Rovers could come back to life.
After a good streak of form, including a well-fought draw against Bolton Wanderers and a derby win over Barnsley, it does feel that Grant McCann’s side are back at square one and need to reset over the next two days ahead of a vital clash against Exeter City.
With seven points between the Grecians and Doncaster heading into Easter Monday, a loss could certainly pull the South Yorkshire side back into a relegation scrap with an unkind fixture list after the visit to St. James’ Park.
Matt Taylor’s side do look down and out, however, so if McCann can rally his troops to victory in Devon, then they will feel assured that third-tier football will remain at the Eco-Power Stadium next season.
