Doncaster boss Grant McCann insisted he knew veteran striker Billy Sharp would deliver the goal to secure promotion back to League One in a 2-1 victory over Bradford.
Sharp, 39, started on the bench against Yorkshire rivals Bradford in his first game back from suspension following a red card against Colchester.
But, after team-mate Teddy Sharman-Lowe had saved Tyreik Wright’s 86th-minute penalty, the ex-Sheffield United striker put Rovers 2-0 up in stoppage time against the 10-man visitors.
The Bantams did strike back late on through Romoney Crichlow but ultimately it was Sharp’s 285th senior goal proved decisive.
Rob Street had earlier given Rovers a 33rd-minute lead and Bradford were reduced to 10 men after the half-time whistle had been blown when defender Aden Baldwin received two consecutive yellow cards for prolonged protests aimed at referee Ross Joyce.
On Sharp, who is out of contract this summer, McCann said: “I knew Billy would score. I really did.
“He’s been champing at the bit and telling me that he was going to score and, with no disrespect to any of our other players, I don’t think there’s anybody else who would have stayed so calm in that situation and just put their shot into the side-netting like he did.”
McCann was also full of praise for the crucial parts loan pair Sharman-Lowe and Street, recruited from Chelsea and Lincoln respectively, played on the afternoon and throughout the campaign.
“Teddy has been exceptional for us in what has been his first EFL loan,” McCann said. “He made two magnificent saves today and I fancied him with the penalty because of the energy that was around the stadium.
“When we brought Rob in in January, I also said I thought we’d got somebody who was too good for the division and I think our fans have seen that in terms of his contribution with 10 goals and his performances. We’ve been lucky to have him and, hopefully, he’s not in Lincoln’s plans again next season.”
Adding his thoughts on promotion, the emotional Rovers boss said: “It feels great and I feel a real sense of pride for the city, our fans, my staff, the players and everyone associated with this football club because we’ve all worked so hard for this.”
Bradford boss Graham Alexander held his tongue when commenting on Baldwin’s dismissal, but made it clear his team cannot afford any similar actions of ill-discipline if they are to fulfil their own promotion ambitions.
“I’ve not spoken to him (Baldwin) because I’ve learned over the years to give myself a bit of breathing space with things like this,” Alexander said. “They are difficult moments and I made mistakes myself as a player, so I have empathy but it was a really disappointing aspect of today’s game. It was an extremely disappointing red card.
“I felt we showed more composure when we went down to 10 men and that we were the better team in the second half, but it’s important to have composure when it’s 11 v 11 and you have to keep control because that is what has cost us today.
“We have to be able to handle the pressure better because we still might have an opportunity to win promotion next Saturday and, if it goes to the play-offs, there will certainly be pressure moments in those games.”
