SUPERSUB LIAM IS DONNY HERO
DARREN Ferguson insists his players got out of jail thanks to super-sub Liam Mandeville as Doncaster staged a stirring second-half fightback.
Reuben Reid fired Exeter in front from the penalty spot to put the Grecians on course for their first home league win of the season.
But Mandeville came off the bench and changed the whole complexion of the match.
His first contribution was to head home James Coppinger’s cross to haul Donny level before setting up John Marquis for two late goals.
The thrilling comeback ended Doncaster’s four-game run without a win, although Ferguson was far from happy with the performance.
The Rovers boss said: “Liam coming on was the difference and he was clinical in everything he did.
“He scored the first goal, set up the next two and, without a shadow of doubt, he changed the game.
“Credit to the boy because he’s been knocking on the door. He’s played in the last couple of Cup matches and he’s done very well. Up until that point we were really poor and I was very brief with my players afterwards.
“It was a sloppy performance but I am pleased we dug out the win and we were ruthless with the goals. We got a bit lucky and 3-1 definitely flattered us.”
Doncaster winger Coppinger had the best chance of the first half but his close-range effort forced goalkeeper James Hamon to produce a superb, one-handed save.
The game exploded into life after half-time as Donny keeper Marko Marosi tripped David Wheeler in the box.
Reid crashed home the penalty for his first goal at St James’ Park since he arrived in September.
But Mandeville’s introduction marked the turning point and his header off the underside of the crossbar set up a grandstand finish.
The striker, 19, then became provider as his drilled cross from the right was rammed home by Marquis from closerange. And Mandeville teed up Marquis to land the knockout blow on 90 minutes.
Exeter are without a home win since April and defeat sees them slip back into the drop zone. Grecians manager Paul Tisdale said: “I thought we played pretty well and gave ourselves a really good chance.
“We didn’t throw it away and it doesn’t necessarily mean that something has gone wrong.
“We were bright for the first hour but the difference was they put two good crosses into our box and scored from both.
“We had umpteen opportunities to get on the end of good crosses put into our box and we didn’t. We haven’t won at home in the league and I am concerned about it. But we are a good team and we have shown that away from home.
“We just haven’t been able to turn that into results at home and we just have to keep on going.”