RICHARD’S RETURN IS HAUNTING
DARREN Ferguson believes his Doncaster Rovers players have taken a big step to restoring confidence levels after drawing with Millwall.
It had looked like struggling Rovers would slip to their fifth straight defeat after they fell behind to a Steve Morison goal after just six minutes.
But Doncaster showed the fight and desire so badly lacking in recent weeks to level through Richard Chaplow on 38 minutes.
And battling Rovers came close to securing their first win in seven in the dying moments when Jordan Archer saved well to deny Nathan Tyson and Conor Grant a dramatic winner.
Ferguson said:“Millwall are a hard side to peg back when they go ahead, but we showed the belief to get back into it and we should have won the game in the end.
“There was a lack of belief last week against Barnsley.We have to be brave and have confidence and the players showed that here.
“We have to get wins to stay in the league and we have got tough games coming up.
“Only wins will turn things around, but hopefully this is a start of getting the confidence back. The players are disappointed they have not got the win.”
Despite letting the lead slip, Millwall boss Neil Harris felt the draw was a good point for the South Londoners.
Harris said: “It was an exciting game and we are happy with the point on the balance of it, though it’s disappointing to let a lead slip. Doncaster used the ball really well. They had a chance to win it late on and it is a point gained for us.
“We started really well and got in front, but Doncaster got a foothold in the game.
“We did not use the ball as well as we can away from home, but I thought we looked good on the break.
“We want to finish as high up the league as possible and we need to keep pushing and stay focused.”
Morison fired Millwall ahead with his tenth league goal of the season when he capitalised on a defensive error from Paul Keegan on six minutes.
Keegan and Grant both went close for the home side as Rovers responded well, to falling behind.
And the spell of pressure was rewarded when former Lion Chaplow lashed home Tyson’s cross on 38 minutes.
Archer got down well moments later to palm away another Chaplow effort as Rovers ended the half strongly.
Morison failed to score from three yards out seconds after the restart when the ball somehow squirmed between his legs with the goal wide open.
Lee Gregory scuffed a shot at Thorsten Stuckmann before Lynden Gooch headed wide for Doncaster as the game opened up with both teams going for it.
Archer then saved onehanded from Tyson, before blocking Grant’s injury-time effort to secure a point.