Source: Team_Talk
Boss bemoans slow-coach Robins
Paul Heffernan stroked home the only goal of the game at the Keepmoat Stadium from Martin Woods' throughball to end City's five-game winning run in the Championship and dent their play-off hopes.[LNB]The game was billed as the clash of the form teams in the division, neither having tasted defeat since December 20.[LNB]But City struggled to create many clear-cut chances and Gavin Williams' close-range effort which was saved by Neil Sullivan towards the end of the first half was as close as they came to an equaliser.[LNB]"We didn't start well," said Johnson. "We didn't have a good middle and we didn't have a good end either.[LNB]"I thought that they started off quite brightly and we were still on the coach. So I was disappointed with that.[LNB]"Once they scored their goal it's a bit more power to their elbow and we had to change our game slightly to try and get in about them.[LNB]"On the day our boys didn't show the quality they've been showing for the last eight or nine games and that's why we got beat."[LNB]Doncaster could have given themselves a more comfortable evening had they made the most of their dominance, particularly early on in each half.[LNB]City, meanwhile, were limited to hopeful balls in to the area which never looked like producing a reward.[LNB]"We did (lack creativity)," Johnson added. "It didn't matter what we did. We could have had 15 men on the pitch tonight and we didn't think it would happen for us."[LNB]The defeat means City missed the chance to climb into the play-off places, but Johnson still has his eyes fixed on the top six.[LNB]"With all due respect to Donnie, we haven't been defeated by anyone in a six-pointer," he said.[LNB]"We've got some six-pointers coming up - Reading and Birmingham. They're the ones that will help you step in to the top six."[LNB]Doncaster assistant manager Richard O'Kelly paid tribute to goalscorer Heffernan, who was a constant thorn in the side of City's defence.[LNB]He set up James Coppinger for what would have been a glorious second goal, touching the ball back for the midfielder to fire just over the bar.[LNB]And, in the second half, he picked up a clever reverse ball from Woods and skipped inside past two challenges before being closed down in the nick of time.[LNB]"He is on form at moment," said Sean O'Driscoll's right-hand man. "His whole game, not just his goals in the last couple of games, has come on leaps and bounds.[LNB]"His movement, his timing of his runs, his general hold up play and linking with other players has been exceptional."[LNB]Rovers, who looked near certainties for relegation early in the season, now have a comfortable cushion over the drop zone.[LNB]But O'Kelly is not setting the team any specific goals.[LNB]"There's no real targets," he added. "We are looking to win the next game, looking to get back on the training pitch, go down to Swansea and put another good performance in."[LNB]Asked how many he thought would guarantee safety, O'Kelly joked: "93."[LNB]He added: "It changes all the time. The division is as tight as it's ever been this year. You can't tell. We might already be safe now. Don't know, daren't speculate. HBOS did that and look what happened to them."[LNB][LNB]
