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Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Former Northern Ireland star ‘couldn't be more proud' after his side humbled Middlesbrough in League Cup
The ex-Linfield midfielder, who made 11 changes, labelled his side's performance as 'top class', with goals from Ben Close, Damola Ajayi, Robbie Gotts and Tom Nixon seeing Rovers comfortably into the second round. 'There was energy, bite, togetherness and quality,' said the Northern Ireland international, 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.'
South Wales Guardian
6 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Grant McCann ‘couldn't be more proud' after Doncaster humble Middlesbrough
McCann, who made 11 changes, labelled his side's performance as 'top class', with goals from Ben Close, Damola Ajayi, Robbie Gotts and Tom Nixon seeing Rovers comfortably into the second round. '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.'
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Grant McCann ‘couldn't be more proud' after Doncaster humble Middlesbrough
McCann, who made 11 changes, labelled his side's performance as 'top class', with goals from Ben Close, Damola Ajayi, Robbie Gotts and Tom Nixon seeing Rovers comfortably into the second round. '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.'
North Wales Chronicle
6 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Grant McCann ‘couldn't be more proud' after Doncaster humble Middlesbrough
McCann, who made 11 changes, labelled his side's performance as 'top class', with goals from Ben Close, Damola Ajayi, Robbie Gotts and Tom Nixon seeing Rovers comfortably into the second round. '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.'
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Grant McCann ‘couldn't be more proud' after Doncaster humble Middlesbrough
McCann, who made 11 changes, labelled his side's performance as 'top class', with goals from Ben Close, Damola Ajayi, Robbie Gotts and Tom Nixon seeing Rovers comfortably into the second round. '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.'
