Trot out at Parade all right on night

DONCASTER Rovers boss Darren Ferguson admitted the pitch at Rodney Parade wasn’t as bad as he was expecting despite being held to a goalless draw by Newport County.

The League Two leaders failed to break down the County defence on a heavily sanded surface with the relegationthreatened club extending their unbeaten run to five matches.

Rovers, meanwhile, haven’t lost in their last ten matches but they failed to score in the league for just the second time all season.

And while it may be seen as two points dropped, Ferguson was delighted with the work ethic and character shown by his squad.

“I couldn’t have asked for more from my players,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone could doubt the effort and application they put in.

“We showed, and it was no surprise to me, a real toughness.

“It’s another point and it’s important at this part of the season to keep picking up points.

“The pitch wasn’t actually as bad as some of the video work we’d done suggested but it’s clearly a horrendous pitch.

“We were dominant in the second half but it was very difficult to create chances on a pitch like that.

“We just hoped that we could capitalise on

one of their mistakes unfortunately.”

David Pipe nearly gave Newport County a surprise lead in the opening minutes as he rose highest to power a header towards goal, only for Rovers shot-stopper Ian Lawlor to make a fingertip save to keep him out.

In a game of few chances, Joe Day was forced to palm a John Marquis shot away at the other end, and Rovers’ Darren Jones struck a wayward effort towards the full-time whistle.

And Newport County boss Graham Westley was delighted to earn a valuable point in his side’s fight to avoid the drop and keep the pressure on Leyton Orient and Notts County.

Westley said: “I said to the lads before the game that we were four unbeaten going into the game and if we came out of it five unbeaten I think it would be a job well done.

“That’s not to say we didn’t want to win the game but we knew they were a good side.

“They’re position in the league tells you everything they are so we knew it was going to be a tough game. It was a bloody and a bloodied game and both sides competed furiously.

“It was a game of few chances, the defending was first class from both side.”