DONCASTER 0 CITY 1

A CHILLY autumn wind whistled through the empty Keepmoat Stadium but Tony McMahon met the media after the game in a t-shirt.

Maybe it was a defiant symbol of his north-east roots. More likely, it was as a result of the energetic efforts that he and his City team-mates had just put in to make it back-to-back victories on their travels.

This was the archetypal 1-0 away win; a typical Phil Parkinson performance and result to get the job done. Now to transfer that grit and winning drive to Valley Parade, starting with Bury’s visit on Tuesday night.

“We looked at the table before the game and it's not where we want to be,” admitted McMahon, who had once again played the tucked-in role in right midfield. “We knew we had to get three points and I thought everyone stood up to the battle.

"We have got maximum points in the last two games, so why can’t we go on and win the next two?

“This squad is capable of doing it. If we stick together and do the right things, I’m sure the home form will sort itself out.”

Perhaps City should consider relocating to Doncaster – they have not lost a league game in the town since 1981 with four wins and three draws since. They had been the last visitors in the division before Saturday to win there.

Not even the predicted new manager “bounce” could rescue Rovers.

Darren Ferguson officially picks up the reins tomorrow but he was presented to the crowd beforehand and was a looming presence over the home team and supporters.

But Fergie junior’s unveiling was hijacked by the son of one of his dad’s most loyal lieutenants.

The Doncaster boss barely had time to return to his seat in the main stand before Devante Cole was being swallowed up in a mass of joyous black shirts.

City forced an instant throw-in; Rory McArdle flicked on from Lee Evans and Cole pounced within a statuesque home defence to score past Thorsten Stuckmann.

What’s that stereotype about having to get up early to beat the Germans? The game was barely 50 seconds old and the keeper from Westphalia was fetching the ball from his net.

That made it five goals in eight outings now for Cole – and moved him within one of the total league tally Aaron Mclean managed in his ill-fated time with the club.

The stabbed volley in the six-yard box reinforced Cole’s poaching instinct but there was more to his game on this occasion. His willingness to chase down and harry defenders and look for gaps down the channels showed signs that he is buying into City’s ethos.

Parkinson said: “I was really pleased with Devante Cole’s pressing from the front. He was excellent second half.

“One of the Doncaster centre halves came off, the other, Gary (MacKenzie), was struggling as well.

“Since he’s been here, Devante’s goal-poaching ability in the six-yard box has been excellent. But I was really pleased with his work ethic.

“He came in late to us anyway because we signed him after Billy (Clarke) got injured.

“To be fair to him, he hit the ground running with his goals but he’s going to get better and better the more he plays.”

Having grabbed the initiative so early, City needed that work rate across the pitch. But this was far from a case of trying to shut up shop and protecting what they had got.

Four corners in the first 11 minutes showed the intent in an opening period when they had chances to pull clear.

MacKenzie, who had scored for the Bantams in their Good Friday win, defied Steve Davies with a pocket-picking tackle as the striker prepared to pull the trigger.

Gary Liddle headed over when anything downwards would have gone in; Kyel Reid forced Stuckmann into a smart save from his piledriver.

City did escape at the other end when Doncaster thought they had levelled from their first corner.

It was too flat but Evans miscued across his own goal and the home side kept the ball alive, MacKenzie’s header over Rory McArdle being turned in – or so it appeared – by Keshi Anderson.

But the striker on loan from Crystal Palace fired against the underside of the bar, it bounced down on the line and he tried to claim a basketball-style rebound with his right hand.

Referee Dean Whitestone was not fooled and Doncaster celebrations were strangled by a yellow card for the perpetrator.

That was really the only moment of anxiety for the Bantams backline. Ben Williams made a good save from his namesake Andy in the second half but otherwise the home efforts foundered against an uncompromising black wall.

Reece Burke, it has to be said, was outstanding. But it’s probably best to whisper that because the less parent club West Ham know about his excellent progress the better.

With every cool and calm display, you fear the teenager is heading nearer to an Upton Park recall – or at least another loan higher up the ladder.

I’m not claiming any inside knowledge here but the football grapevine buzzes like few others and word on Burke’s exploits will undoubtedly be spreading.

In McArdle alongside him, he has the experienced old head to learn from as the defence restricted Doncaster’s pressure on their goal to a bare minimum.

City were not able to create so freely themselves after the break and were not as convincing in possession as they had been.

But McMahon nearly capped his busy shift on the right side with a peach of a free-kick that just bent away from the post with Stuckmann beaten all ends up.

Doncaster improved with the introduction of Nathan Tyson and a switch to three up front. The substitute fired across goal and narrowly wide and MacKenzie headed over.

Ferguson knew by then though that he has a fair job on his hands to get the under-achievers he has inherited going again.

For Parkinson, it’s now a case of removing those home discomforts and making Valley Parade trips once again as profitable as those on the road.