Dave Challinor hails Stockport response to ‘challenge’ in win over Doncaster

Dave Challinor hailed his Stockport side as they ‘rose to the challenge’ to beat Doncaster.

Stockport’s campaign has been blighted by injuries to key figures in the squad but Challinor said his players showed what they are all about at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Second-half goals from Ben Osborn and Kyle Wootton saw County triumph 2-0 with the control within the performance particularly pleasing for manager Challinor.

“We’ve got ourselves into a position where we lose football matches and it becomes a surprise and there’s a bit of panic,” said Challinor, whose side exited the FA Cup on penalties to Cambridge on Saturday.

“But tonight we’ve produced a really good away performance. We’ve defended really well and dug in like you have to do and we’ve produced two moments of real quality that got us the win and three points.

“A massive well done to the players. There’s things going on in terms of the squad that do challenge you and things have gone against us. What you have to do is find a way and we’ve done that.

“We got hold of the ball and got it in good areas. We saw the game out. I’m never comfortable, even at 2-0, but we controlled it really well.

“Both goals were excellent. When the top corner bulges on two occasions, it’s really pleasing – especially in front of our supporters who came out in good number.”

Grant McCann feels his Doncaster side lack belief that they can mix with the best teams in League One.

McCann declared Rovers “well beaten” by Stockport and said there was an absence of conviction from his team in their attacking play.

“I don’t think we showed any conviction,” he said. “It’s the poorest I’ve seen us this season on the ball. We kept giving the ball away.

“We were collectively not good enough – the staff and the team. We deserved to get beat. They showed more aggression and intensity than we did, particularly in the second half.

“I said to the players that I didn’t think enough of them believed that we could beat Stockport tonight. The players need to get out of that cycle because every time they play against a team expected to be in and around the top six, there’s a bit of fear in them.

“I need to get that out of them because it’s not what I’m about and not what my staff are about. These players need to step up and perform in the games against the big teams.

“We’ve got the belief in them and I know the fans have got that belief. The players need to feel it themselves.”