MOORE’S THE MERRIER AMID FIXTURE FEAR

PUSHING for f promotion and flying in the FA Cup, C it is all going swimmingly swimmingl on the pitch for Doncaster boss Darren Moore. But Bu after four matches postponed po after a Covid outbreak and now making progress in the c cup, the League One side face a fixture pile-up.

Despite protecting some players recovering re from illness, his reshuffled reshuff side claimed a notable Ch Championship scalp thanks to Taylor Richards.

“There’ “There’s a lot to come and we’ll deal with i it as best as we can,” said Moore (above). “But a lot of teams are in the same boat. We’re just hoping for a good winter in terms of no more games called off because of frozen pitches.

“I th think we’re at our limit of the time ti to fit these fixtures in.”

His H Saturday line-up did not no include key midfielder m Ben Whiteman, linked with Preston and QPR. And A Moore hopes Whiteman is still at the Keepmoat beyond the end of this month. “I can’t stop the speculation but he’s our player,” he said. “I’m the manager and I’ve not heard anything about him moving away from the club and I’m looking forward to working with him.”

It was a depressing afternoon for Blackburn, the only chink of light a first start in 13 months for Bradley Dack. He has had a long recovery from a serious knee injury and the challenge for manager Tony Mowbray is to get him ready for the rest of the Championship season.

“Bradley needs minutes on the pitch,” said Mowbray. “He can run all day and do stamina work but games get you fit.

“I’m just pleased he’s back.”

BLACKBURN: Pears 4, Buckley 6, Lenihan 6, Johnson 6, Bell 5 (Douglas 46, 5); Travis 5 (Elliott 58, 6), Trybull 5 (Armstrong 64, 5), Downing 5 (Rothwell 58, 6), Dolan 5, Dack 6 (Davenport 73), Brereton 6. DONCASTER: Balcombe 7, Wright 7, Anderson 8, Butler 7, John 7, Halliday 7, James 7, Richards 7 (Lokilo 67, 5), Okenabirhie 6 (Amos 80), Simoes 6, John-Jules 6.

REFEREE: Samuel Barrott