McCann reveals players disappointed not to get more goals

Posted Sunday, February 10, 2019 by PA

Grant McCann revealed his Doncaster players were disappointed to have only won 3-1 after coming from behind to beat 10-man Peterborough.

George Cooper gave Peterborough an early lead before Tyler Denton was sent off for two bookable offences after 44 minutes.

Goals from Matty Blair, John Marquis and Kieran Sadlier saw Doncaster turn the tables in the second half in a game which saw both managers up against their former clubs.

And McCann said there was disappointment the margin was not wider.

“The group that I’ve got were shouting and arguing with each other after the game – they were disappointed to only win 3-1,” he said.

“That speaks volumes really. They are getting my mentality to score, score and score again.

“John Marquis and Matty Blair were having a little ding-dong because they want more goals.

“Maybe we took our foot off the gas when we went to 3-1 and our decision making in the final third wasn’t great.

“But today was about getting the three points and we’ve done just that.”

McCann also praised his side’s professionalism for dealing with the test of playing against 10 men.

“That’s the first time we’ve had to play against 10 men this year and I thought we handled it well,” he said.

“Some teams think it’s going to be easier than what it is and end up on the wrong end of a result.

“I thought we showed good character. It was a big team talk from me at half-time and it was all about professionalism which we showed.”

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson felt the tipping point for his side came when Denton was booked for time wasting after only 35 minutes, ultimately leading to his dismissal for two yellow cards just before half-time.

Ferguson was far from happy with the decision and that Doncaster’s Mallik Wilks only saw yellow after an apparent headbutt.

“We should have been 3-0 up before then – we were in control of the game,” Ferguson said.

“We’re heading towards half very comfortable. The turning point in the game was when the referee booked my player for time wasting with 65 minutes to go. It’s an incredible decision.

“How you can book someone with that length of time to go is beyond me. Certainly one of my team.
“Why would we be timewasting? We’re not doing any of that. For whatever reason, the referee has made his decisions. But you have to get on with it.

“I felt sorry for the young boy but he was a bit naive with his second challenge.

“We thought it would be evened out when their boy headbutted Ivan Toney but it was only a yellow.

“The problem for us was that we can’t keep 11 players on the pitch past half-time.”