Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann has issued a defiant message to critics after a poor start to the League One season. The club sits 22nd in the table with only three points from their opening five matches, a position that demands an immediate response according to their boss.
McCann's comments come on the back of a 3-2 defeat away to Plymouth. That result extended a winless run, with the team's recent form reading LDDDL. They have scored six goals but conceded eight, leaving them with a negative goal difference of two. The gap to the top is already significant, with Sheffield Wednesday nine points clear at the summit.
McCann was frank in his assessment of the performance at Home Park. He admitted his team was not good enough and deserved to lose the match. The manager revealed he had to raise his voice at half-time to provoke a reaction, something he dislikes doing. "It's another game where I'm having to raise my voice at half-time, which I don't like doing," McCann said. "It's not what I used to respect when I was a player as a manager, losing his head."
The tactic initially worked. Doncaster came out stronger after the break, won a penalty which was converted by Alfie, and briefly made the scoreline respectable. However, McCann stated the team then "exploded" and their performance level dropped dramatically for the remainder of the game.
Following his press conference, McCann took to social media platform X to deliver a clear message to supporters and detractors alike. He posted: "We know the start hasn’t been what any of us wanted, but doubt us all you want. This group will respond."
This public show of faith is designed to instill belief in a squad that has 41 league games remaining to turn their season around. The full squad list shows the personnel McCann believes can achieve that turnaround. Their current standings position is a stark reminder of the work required.
The immediate chance to respond comes with a trip to Plough Lane to face AFC Wimbledon on September 12. The Dons, currently 15th, battled against relegation for much of last season. The last meeting between the two sides holds positive memories for Rovers. In January, a dramatic 99th-minute winner from Owen Bailey secured a victory that acted as a catalyst for Doncaster's rise up the table.
After that win, Rovers had 27 points from 19 games and eventually finished the campaign in 14th place. McCann will hope a similar spark can be found this time around to ignite their season.
History suggests they can. The team has shown resilience under McCann before, and the manager is backing his players to show it again. With the vast majority of the season still to play, there is ample time to climb the table. The key will be converting performances into points, starting with the upcoming away match.
The challenge is clear. Doncaster Rovers travel to face AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, September 12, 2026, needing a result to kickstart their League One campaign.
