DONCASTER Rovers dropped into the Championship relegation zone for the first time last night after going down 2-0 at home to derby rivals Sheffield United.
Rovers have now suffered five successive league defeats - their worst sequence of results since they lost eight in a row in the ill-fated 1997-98 season.
It was a familiar story for Rovers' fans in the 14,242 crowd - the highest of the season at the Keepmoat Stadium - as Sean O'Driscoll's men once again failed to turn chances into goals.
Lady Luck again deserted Rovers on the night with two first half incidents - Gareth Roberts conceding an own goal and skipper Brian Stock being denied by the woodwork - contributing to their defeat.
"Whether their first goal was unlucky or not, the main thing was that it didn't affect the way we played," said Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll.
"We can't feel sorry for ourselves and we bounced back and did the right things and the right things are the right things win, lose or draw."
The Blades added a second goal on the hour through Stephen Quinn but O'Driscoll said that he never felt that the game was up at that stage.
"Had we thought the game was over then we might as well all have walked off the pitch, but we reacted well to it," said O'Driscoll.
"I think that the players were disappointed, but they kept on doing the things that were right. They were right up to that point so we had to keep on doing them.
"On another day we'd have scored two or three, but it wasn't to be and we have to dust ourselves down and move on.
"I am not as disappointed as the players are over the missed chances.
"But you can only score goals if you create chances and to do that you have to have a good passing game and movement and organisation and all the other things you need.
"If we weren't creating chances then I'd be worried. But we've done that against all the top teams we've played so far.
"We've put an awful lot of pressure on a lot of teams that we've played this season but all of them can cope with it better than lower league clubs.
"It doesn't faze them because they have got good shape. Sheffield defended well when they had to and they have obviously got some excellent players who can hit you on the break or score goals at crucial times.
"And that is not just Sheffield; it is every team in the Championship.
"We are doing well apart from winning the games. Everybody is going to throw negatives at us so we have to focus on the positives and there were a lot in tonight's game, as there has been in every game we've played.
"Everybody is working extremely hard and if we keep playing the way we can then we'll be alright."
Not one for making sweeping changes, O'Driscoll made three last night.
James Coppinger was ill, Sam Hird was rested and Lewis Guy was relegated to the bench.
Rovers 0 v Blades 2: CLICK HERE FOR MATCH REPORT AND PICTURESWhat do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Blades Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarOwls Watch 08-09 - The Season So FarWatch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much moreFootball headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 601 words and appears in Doncaster Star newspaper.
