BUTLER BLASTS MUTED DONNY
Double keeps McCann on top
ANDY Butler blamed his Doncaster side’s lack of energy for their failure to defeat struggling Northampton.
Rovers enjoyed large swathes of possession but struggled to create chances against a stubborn and resolute Northampton side.
And after failing to secure a win for the second successive game, Butler said he expected much better from his side.
“It was disappointing. I don’t think we played with any sort of urgency or tempo,” he said.
“Northampton came here and set their stall out for a 0-0 and get something on the break or a set-piece. We had to be switched on for them, which we were and that’s a positive.
“We’re so much better than that, though.
“We allowed them to get back into shape and dictate the tempo. That was disappointing.
“We spoke about it before the game that playing with some sort of tempo would move them about but we allowed them to get into shape too much.
“The players have got standards they know about and they didn’t reach them. We can improve and that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Both sides struggled for fluidity in a game of few chances.
Northampton keeper Jon Mitchell produced a superb save to tip over a header from Tom Anderson midway through the first half.
The visitors mounted decent spells of pressure without testing Louis Jones.
Taylor Richards drilled a low effort from 25 yards which Mitchell held comfortably before Ryan Watson fired wide from a good position at the other end.
Doncaster dominated much of the second half but again met stubborn resistance.
James Coppinger, Elliot Simoes and Reece James all had efforts on goal for Rovers.
Mickel Miller almost saw a corner go straight in, only for it to be blocked on the line by team-mate Watson.
Rovers pushed for a winner in the later stages but struggled to force chances on goal.
Interim Northampton boss Jon Brady praised his side’s work ethic.
“It was a good performance all round. The players worked really hard and we were very organised,” he said.
“It was really pleasing to restrict a team who started the day fifth to one real effort on our goal from a corner when Jon Mitchell made a good save.
“We also had a good couple of chances to win it.
“We need to be a bit braver on the ball but we’ve finally got a breather with no game in midweek so we can work on that, because the schedule has been relentless.
“But the effort and application from all 11 players and the subs was first class and the real positive is we have taken four points from playoff contenders in the last three games.”
GRANT McCann praised the match-winning contribution from Keane Lewis-Potter after his goals earned top-of-the-table Hull victory over Oxford.
Lewis-Potter was a threat from kick-off and deservedly scored twice for his home-town club, who are now six points clear of their rivals.
Hull head coach McCann said: “I thought he was excellent. He started really brightly and played really, really well. When Keano’s playing with that confidence it’s great to see.
“When I left him out against Bristol Rovers I always had in the back of my mind that this game would be good for him – to freshen him up and bring him back in.
“He’s gone up a notch – he really has. And he really has done well. He caused (Anthony) Forde lots of problems all game and I’m really, really pleased with Keane’s performance. He’s done really well and has run himself into the ground.”
Hull deserved to win their fifth game on the bounce, but they were up against it in the early stages. Oxford were enterprising from kick-off and might have twice scored early on, with Dan Agyei’s creativity keeping Matt Ingram up to the job in Hull’s goal.
But the Tigers – six points clear at the top after winning
five on the spin – had a game-changer in Lewis-Potter.
The 20-year-old opened the scoring when he controlled Lewie Coyle’s long ball from distance before curling the fball into the corner after 22 minutes.
Oxford played well, most notably before the break, but they lacked attacking zest when good balls went into Hull’s penalty area.
They also faced a willing nemesis in Lewis-Potter, who scored a second when his shot from inside the area was deflected over goalkeeper Jack Stevens after 71 minutes.
McCann said: “It was another good performance and another win. I’ve always been calm. Maybe the only person who doesn’t see myself being calm is my wife when we lose.
“We know this has been the season of all seasons, and I don’t think people understand how relentless it’s been for the players.
“But we can now give them a bit of a breather as we don’t have a game in midweek, which will be good.
“All we can do is focus on our own job. If we can continue to show the calmness and maturity we’ve shown here, then we’ve put ourselves in a good position.
“We’ve played the most games in the division, and it’s put is in a position where we can give the boys a little bit of a break. It’s been a mammoth effort from everyone involved. I thought we showed a calmness and maturity against a good Oxford side.
“I thought we broke with real venom and pace at times. Being a bit critical, we could have had more than two goals, but we’ll take a 2-0 win and move on to the next one.
“There’s still 10 games to go. All we can do is focus on our own performances. We’ve got to keep this level of consistency going.”
Counterpart Karl Robinson accepted that scoring is becoming a difficulty in Oxford’s quest for the play-offs. He said: “I’m really proud of the players – they gave me everything.
“For 60 minutes. we were arguably the better ream, but we have to take our chances.
“I felt that in that first 30 minutes we missed a number of chances. For large parts, we dominated the game and hurt them, But for the last 35 minutes we were dominated.
I think it’s not a lack of confidence (scoring goals) because they care so much, but it’s not just about the strikers.”
Robinson added: “We’ve definitely got to find ways of scoring goals in the middle of the pitch.
“Having said all that, I can’t question the players’ attitude. This was probably a step too far, but in in the first 30 minutes we were the better team.”