Grant McCann said Doncaster’s 5-2 drubbing at the hands of Chesterfield was a “big learning curve” that his promotion-chasing side need to take on board very quickly.
Rovers went into the clash on a four-game winning streak in Sky Bet League Two and could have moved to within four points of stuttering leaders Walsall with another victory.
But it was Chesterfield who came away with the spoils, with Bim Pepple opening his account for the club with a brace and Dylan Duffy, Michael Olakigbe and Ollie Banks also on the scoresheet.
Doncaster could only respond through goals from Luke Molyneux and Joe Ironside when 2-0 and 4-1 down, and a disappointed McCann felt his team contributed to their own downfall.
He said: “I think first half we got the press right, we were good against them. Two goals were mistakes from us.
“First one was a breaking ball, flips in behind us, bit of a miscommunication between Jamie (Sterry) thinks Teddy’s (Sharman-Lowe) coming, Teddy thinks Jamie’s dealing with it, neither happens and Teddy slips. There’s not much you can do about that.
“Second one is a set-play and we pride ourselves on that you know, and we do the first bit well. We don’t do the second bit well, we don’t get to the ball and then we don’t pick up.
“We had two really good chances before they scored that we should really score. We came back into the game, we scored a good goal and I’m thinking, ‘hey, we’ll have a good go in the second half, let’s be on the front foot, stay strong, let’s get after them’.
“We went the complete opposite. We didn’t get to the ball, we gave them too much time. For 20 minutes or so they were better than us, way better than us. Again, two goals that we can avoid.
“All in all, it’s a big learning curve for us tonight, it’s one where we need to digest, look at and learn from very, very quickly.”
Chesterfield assistant manager Danny Webb felt his team fully deserved the win as the Spireites moved up to ninth spot, five points off the top seven.
He also backed Doncaster to continue flying high in the table despite this setback.
He said: “I think it was a great to score five goals against a team second in the league. They’re a really good team, they’ll definitely be up there regardless of this result at the end of the season.
“Every time we attack we’re going to score. Crosses in the box were good, just a bit disappointing that last 10 minutes that we went a bit sloppy.
“For them to get that goal just not too long before half-time, the message was at the break to the players was they’re going to come out believing they can get an early goal.
“We’re pleased tonight that three of the goalscorers were new signings as well – great for all of them to get the goals.”
Chesterfield announced before kick-off that midfielder John Fleck, who had been named among the Spireites substitutes, had been taken to hospital as a precautionary measure after being taken ill during the warm-up.
Webb said of the 33-year-old Scotland international: “We saw him he was on a stretcher as he was leaving. Conscious, speaking, with a smile on his face and he’s in good hands. We’ll know more tomorrow, but fingers crossed he seems to be OK.”
