DONCASTER Rovers suffered their biggest defeat at the Keepmoat Stadium, crashing 5-0 against Premier League Bolton Wanderers in their final warm-up game last night.
Bolton, who had beaten Rovers 4-0 in the third round of the 2006-07 FA Cup on their previous visit to the stadium, showed much more urgency than Newcastle had done six days earlier, and scored four goals without reply in the first half.
Fielding what was close to their strongest side, the Lancashire club were dominant in all areas of the pitch
Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll again chose to take the opportunity to look at different combinations in both halves rather than field what he perceived to be his strongest line-up.
He said after the game that he had learned a lot about what combinations worked and which didn't.
Midfielder Richie Wellens, who had been outstanding in the first half against the Magpies, was one of eight fresh faces at the start of the second half last night.
He said: "It was difficult coming on when we were 4-0 down because we were never going to win the game. But I thought that we stuck at it and played quite well. We created a couple of chances and restricted them to just one more goal.
"You have to take your hat off to Bolton in the first half. They were solid at the back, showed good movement in midfield and their finishing was clinical. We were well beaten tonight but it won't have an adverse affect on the team's morale in our Championship opener at Derby on Saturday.
"We didn't go overboard when we beat Newcastle last week and we won't let our heads go down after tonight. It was only a warm-up game and they are all about getting fit and the manager looking at different options.
"We know that we are going to have to raise our game in the Championship, but at least we won't be playing sides as good as Bolton."
Leicester City's James Chambers was in the 3,545 crowd and O'Driscoll admitted after the game that he was utility player that he had spoken of in recent days. The 27-year-old can play both right and left-back as well as midfield.
He is thought to be keen to stay in the Championship and looking to move on after the Foxes' relegation to League One. Chambers, whose previous clubs include West Bromwich and Watford, is not included in the Leicester side to play Crystal Palace today.
O'Driscoll is hoping that there could be developments over the weekend.
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