Moore finally ends Donny Tayl of woe

DONCASTER boss Darren Moore saluted his players’ heroic effort as the League One club knocked out their Championship opponents.

They had not played since December 22 and only returned to full training a few days ago after a Covid outbreak in the squad had seen their last four games postponed.

Key players were absent, others were forced to play out of position and they could not fill the subs’ bench.

But Taylor Richards’ first-half goal was enough to put them into the fourth round.

Moore said: “We went with what we had available and I was proud of how the players responded.

“I was proud of the togetherness they showed to get stuck in and the work rate.

“We had to put in a performance like this against a team like Blackburn and we carried out the game plan to perfection.”

Moore handed debuts to two new loan signings, goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe from Brentford and Barnsley winger Elliot Simoes and his patched-up team had the better early chances.

First, striker Tyreece John-Jules was denied by Rovers goalkeeper Aynsley Pears.

Then Richards was played through the middle but he curled wide from a good position inside the box.

Richards gave Donny the lead on 42 minutes thanks to a goalkeeping howler as his tame 20-yard effort squirmed through Pears’ grasp.

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray said: “Well done to Doncaster, they made it difficult for us. We are not taking our chances and it is an issue.”

BLACKBURN: Pears 4; Buckley 6, Lenihan 6, Johnson 6, Bell 5 (Douglas

(46th) 5); Travis 5 (Elliott (58th) 6), Trybull 5 (Armstrong (64th) 5), Downing 5 (Rothwell (58th) 6); Dolan 5, Dack 6 (Davenport

(73rd) 4), Brereton 6

Balcombe 7; Wright 7, Anderson 8, Butler 7, John 7; Halliday 7, James 7; Richards 7 (Lokilo (67th) 5), Okenabirhie 6 (Amos 80th), Simoes 6; John-Jules 6

Tom Anderson

S Barrott