A glorious honeymoon is now over at Peterborough United who continue to be the authors of their own misfortune

A lacklustre first-half was pretty unforgiveable given a second chance to escape the relegation zone this week on offer, especially as the hosts hadn’t won a League One game since early September.

But Doncaster were worth their two-goal half-time advantage courtesy of a double strike from Owen Gibson in the opening quarter and they hung on without conceding too many opportunities after Posh improved considerably after the break, helped by a necessary double substitution. One of the new arrivals, Harry Leonard, pulled a goal back quickly, but, despite playing with far more urgency, Posh couldn’t find an equaliser. Indeed Doncaster had the better opportunities in an entertaining second period.

It speaks volumes the Leonard goal was aided by a huge deflection. Doncaster had a goalkeeper who barely caught a ball all afternoon, but Posh failed to test him enough and when they did they failed to capitalise on the inevitable spillage.

Manager Williams reacted to a first defeat of his Posh career by making two changes. Midfielder Matthew Garbett replaced striker Leonard which meant a more advanced role for Chelsea loanee Jimmy-Jay Morgan, while another midfielder Brandon Khela was selected ahead of winger Abraham Odoh who didn’t make the matchday squad.

Doncaster boss Grant McCann picked the same side that drew 0-0 at Stevenage in their previous outing. Rovers hadn’t won in their previous 10 matches.

And they were well on course of ending that run by the time a quarter of the game had passed. Gibson was the home hero pouncing on poor defensive communication and then a poor pass to deliver two left footed finishes. On seven minutes a bad decision by Harley Mills to chase the ball rather than mark his man enabled Luke Molyneux to find Gibson all alone at the back post.

Garbett's poor pass helped create the second goal. Gibson was the man to be set free again and he slipped the ball through the legs of Alex Bass on 23 minutes.

Posh hadn’t been bad between the goals, when they weren’t getting caught offside, with Kyrell Lisbie straying so far beyond the defence to convert a Mills cross it was barely worth celebrating.

But the second goal knocked the stuffing out of them. The confidence drained, passes went astray and the positioning of the full-backs was questionable to say the least. Peter Kioso, who had been booked a few minutes earlier, was lucky to not to concede a penalty for hauling down an opponent.

Two substitutes for Posh was a predictable response as Williams accepted his changes didn’t work. Leonard replaced Morgan and natural winger Declan Frith came on for Khela.

Frith was soon in action running hard at a retreating defence before forcing a save. The second of the game from Timothree Lo-Tutala who had pushed an Archie Collins 20 yarder wide before the break.

And Leonard’s impact was even greater as he took a pass from Collins 16 yards from goal, turned and found the corner of the net, albeit with the help of a generous deflection.

Posh sent men forwards in search of the leveller and to be fair Doncaster didn’t sit back to try and defend the lead. Bass made a brilliant save to thwart Brandon Hanlon and substitute Billy Sharp missed badly when he streaked clear of a static defence.

At the other end Leonard headed a Garbett cross over and then forced a save after receiving a fine pass from Collins. Other shots were blocked and Frith passed when he might had a go himself after tearing past his marker. Garbett’s shot from 20 yards was inevitably spilled by Lo-Tutala, but no Posh man was on site as they weren’t when a simple cross wasn’t held at the initial attempt soon afterwards.

Only four minutes was added on by a referee who also did well to interrupt one promising Posh attack. He spent a minute dealing with a bottle on the pitch without adding that time on. It’s the way things are going for Posh, but mainly they remain the authors of their own misfortune.

Posh: Alex Bass, Harley Mills, Tom O’Connor, Tom Lees, Peter Kioso, Archie Collins, Ben Woods, Brandon Khela (sub Declan Frith, 46 mins), Kyrell Lisbie (sub Gustav Lindgren, 71 mins), Matt Garbett, Jimmy-Jay Morgan (sub Harry Leonard, 46 mins).

Unused subs: Vicente Reyes, Carl Johnston, David Okagbue, Donay O’Brien-Brady.

Doncaster: Thimothee Lo-Tutala, Jamie Sterry, James Maxwell, Owen Bailey, Jay McGrath, Luke Molyneux (sub Genn Middleton, 84 mins), George Broadbent, Jordan Gibson (sub Sean Grehan, 72 mins), Connor O’Riordan, Harry Clifton (sub Robbie Gotts, 62 mins), Brandon Hanlan (sub Billy Sharp, 62 mins).

Unused subs: Ian Lawlor, Tom Nixon, Charlie Crew,

GOALS: Posh – Leonard (51 mins)

Doncaster – Gibson (7 mins & 23 mins).

CAUTIONS: Posh – Kioso (foul), Woods (foul).

Doncaster – Hanlon (foul), Bailey (foul), O’Riordon (foul), McGrath (foul), Maxwell (delaying the restart).

REFEREE: Ollie Yates 6

ATTENDANCE: 9,654 (approx 2,000 Posh).,