Grant McCann ‘couldn't be more proud' after Doncaster humble Middlesbrough
'There was energy, bite, togetherness and quality,' said McCann, who led Rovers to promotion to League One last season after arriving back at the club for his second spell in charge in May 2023.
'For 20 to 25 minutes in the first half I thought it was one of the best performances I've seen since I have been back at the club in terms of how we controlled the game.
'It's always good to test yourself against top Championship managers and coaches and from my team, I couldn't be more proud.
'I said to them in there, we don't have a second team, we have a full squad of 23, 24 first-team players – and we showed that.'
The defeat is a first at Middlesbrough for head coach Rob Edwards, who described the heavy setback as 'painful'.
He said: 'I've spoken to the lads, they know exactly how I feel. The first thing I want to start with is acknowledging our supporters, how they were with us tonight. We didn't hold our end of the bargain up.
'Doncaster have come here and played extremely well but made loads of changes, a whole team of changes and deservedly won the game. That's not acceptable.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
29 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Celtic star puts contract talks on back burner as Kwon makes headlines after debut vs PSG
The Hoops are also locked in talks with a Championship club over a possible cooperation agreement Kasper Schmeichel insists he isn't thinking about his Celtic future as he puts contract talks on the back burner. The veteran keeper turns 39 in November and has set his sights on starring for Denmark at next summer's World Cup. Schmeichel – who replaced Joe Hart between the sticks at Parkhead last summer – hasn't thought about retirement just yet. 'No, that's just not how we operate right now,' he told STV. 'There's a massive game and all focus is on that. 'I can't imagine that's important to them or to me, at the moment. 'I've got a contract and it is what it is at the moment. We'll take that at some point.' Meanwhile, Celts are planning for the future, with young shotstopper Marcus Gill close to agreeing on a new contract. Elsewhere, former midfielder Kwon has caught the eye in France after an impressive debut against Champions League winners PSG. The South Korean was flogged to Nantes during the summer, having failed to make a single competitive appearance for Celtic since arriving from Busan I-Park in 2023. Kwon - who had mixed loan stints at St Mirren and Hibs - made his Nantes debut on Sunday as the new French top-flight season got underway. The 24-year-old didn't look out of place as he came up against PSG superstars Vitinha, Fabio Ruiz and countryman Lee Kang-in in the middle of the park. Kwon put in the hard yards before being subbed for ex-Arsenal ace Francis Coquelin in the final 10 minutes as PSG edged out 1-0 winners. And the official Ligue 1 social media accounts marked Kwon's promising start on X, sharing a picture and writing: "Kwon and Lee, South Korean talents shining in Ligue 1." Finally, Shaun Maloney is leading talks with Inverness Caley Thistle over a possible cooperation agreement with Celtic. Caley Thistle interim chief executive Charlie Christie revealed he met with the Parkhead club's professional player pathway manager. He told the Inverness Courier: 'We have been offered it by two or three clubs. Shaun Maloney drove up from Glasgow and said to me that they had done the data on the way Caley Thistle play. 'He said that we are only one of two clubs in League One that they would put players to and that is compliment to Scott Kellacher. Celtic is one we are looking at.' Celtic already have an agreement with Championship side Ayr United, which allows youngsters between 16-21 to move between the parent and cooperation teams throughout the season to increase playing time.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Tuesday briefing: Leeds win, Bournemouth sign Scotland star
Meanwhile, Russell Martin insists Rangers have it in them to seal a place in the group stages of the Champions League despite a distinctly underwhelming start to their domestic campaign. Leeds off to winning start despite Everton complaints Lukas Nmecha converted a controversial late penalty on his debut as Leeds made a winning return to the Premier League by beating Everton 1-0 at Elland Road. Second-half substitute Nmecha held his nerve to fire home an 84th-minute winner from the spot and seal Leeds a deserved win after Everton captain James Tarkowski was adjudged to have handled. Everton strongly protested against the penalty decision, which came after Anton Stach's thumping shot struck Tarkowski on the arm, but referee Chris Kavanagh's decision was quickly upheld by VAR. Tarkowski described the decision as 'bizarre', while Everton boss David Moyes, who confronted Kavanagh at full-time, said on Sky Sports: 'The goal's completely wrong and really harsh. 'It took a deflection, and.. Tarky would have had to get his arm chopped off. It was a poor decision. VAR had a chance to get that decision right and fair, and I felt like it wasn't fair.' Romero agrees new deal with Tottenham Tottenham captain Cristian Romero has ended uncertainty over his future by signing a new long-term contract at the club. The 27-year-old Argentina centre-back, who had been heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid earlier this summer, was named as Spurs' new skipper on Wednesday following the departure of Son Heung-min. Romero had entered the final two years of his previous deal, but has signed new terms running until 2029, the PA news agency understands. Romero, who starred in Tottenham's Europa League triumph in May, said: 'I'm very happy here in the club. For me this club is the best in the world. 'After winning the Europa League, it's like a special season now. We want to win. Maybe why not win again this season? Another trophy with the club is important for everyone.' Bournemouth land Liverpool star Bournemouth have completed the signing of winger Ben Doak from Premier League rivals Liverpool in a deal worth up to £25million. The 19-year-old Scotland international has agreed a five-year contract. Doak spent last season on loan at Championship club Middlesbrough, scoring three goals and registering seven assists in 24 appearances. Bournemouth are understood to have paid an initial £20m and could spend a further £5m in add-ons as they reinvest some of the funds received from a series of lucrative summer departures. Martin undaunted by Rangers hopes of joining elite Russell Martin insisted Rangers should not be fazed by the prospect of joining Europe's elite in this season's Champions League as he rallied his players for the first leg of their play-off tie against Club Brugge at Ibrox. Gers have had a difficult start to the campaign and it was suggested that – after proving out of their depth when they last qualified in 2022 – they are ill-equipped for the continent's premier competition and would be better suited to dropping into the Europa League instead. Martin dismissed any such notion and only sees positives associated with making it into the Champions League within three months of his appointment. 'I think the belief it would give the players would be massive,' he said. 'I think what it would do for the football club financially would be huge. 'So I think if we were able to do it, which I really believe we can, if we can do it and qualify for it, I think it would be brilliant.' Forest continue to splash the cash Nottingham Forest have taken their summer spending close to £100million in the space of three days with striker Arnaud Kalimuendo following Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee to the City Ground. Kalimuendo has signed a five-year deal after Forest concluded a deal with Rennes to sign the 23-year-old striker, who scored 18 goals for the Ligue 1 side last season, in a deal worth £25million. The deal comes after a weekend that had already seen Forest spend a club record £37.5m to sign Hutchinson from Ipswich and £30m to get midfielder McAtee from Manchester City. 'When I heard about the interest from Forest, I was honoured,' Kalimuendo said. 'This is a proud moment for me, joining a team who had a strong season last year and a club with great history.' What's on today? Rangers look to move closer to a lucrative place in this season's Champions League as they face Belgian side Club Brugge in the first leg of their qualifying round clash at Ibrox. A busy League One programme includes Stevenage's bid to extend the division's last remaining 100 per cent record to four games when they travel to Port Vale. In League Two, pace-setters Crewe and Chesterfield look to keep winning with away games at Fleetwood and Gillingham respectively.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Nigel Martyn: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney 'tremendous'
That is the view from former England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn who hailed the Hollywood stars' impact at The Racecourse since their takeover in February 2021. Phil Parkinson's men are in the Championship after securing a record-breaking three successive promotions and Martyn feels other clubs will try and follow the Reds' lead of celebrity ownership. Speaking to Parimatch, the ex-Crystal Palace, Leeds and Everton stopper said: "I think it's been a breath of fresh air if I'm totally honest. "Seeing things like the Wrexham documentary on television and how open they've been with everything is great for the game. "They're popular people and while Ryan Reynolds is somebody that most people think, 'Yeah, he looks like he's a nice guy and he's funny and whatever,' both he and Rob McElhenney are serious about how they run the football club as well. ""You won't hear anyone in Wrexham say a bad thing about them, I wouldn't imagine, because they've turned them around from a team that had been out of the Football League to one which I expect to see pushing into the higher echelons and the Premier League, really. It's been tremendous. "Anything that boosts the club and the standing of your club in a positive way is a good thing. To have Tom Brady at Birmingham City, for Birmingham fans, it makes them stick their chest out a little bit further and say, 'Look who we've got now.' "But again, these people are serious and they've got serious money behind them. Next, it's about the recruitment. Who do they get as the manager? Who do they get as head of recruitment? Who do they get on the pitch to produce the goods? "So far, Wrexham have done it tremendously well and Birmingham appear to be making progress. In all honesty, it doesn't matter how much money you throw at it, there is no guarantee that you're going to win the league. But, so far, both teams have sort of bounced up the leagues pretty well. "Fair play to them, it's going to be interesting but I think it's a positive thing, definitely, and celebrity ownership, with people trying to copy Wrexham and Birmingham, is probably something we'll see more and more and more of."
