Owen Bailey insists Doncaster Rovers can take genuine encouragement from a 1-1 League One draw against Notts County, despite the result leaving both clubs short of the three points each would have wanted.

Bailey's verdict

The Rovers captain spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield in the aftermath of the stalemate, reflecting on a game he felt his side largely controlled.

"For large spells of the game we were good," Bailey said. "We created chances, we pressed well and I thought we looked threatening. It's frustrating not to come away with all three points when you play like that for so long."

The skipper acknowledged, however, that a point on the board is never something to discard entirely in the third tier, where margins between the top and bottom of the table can shift sharply from one midweek round of fixtures to the next.

How the game unfolded

The 1-1 scoreline tells a tight story, and by Bailey's account it was one Rovers felt they edged in terms of overall play. Doncaster took the lead and looked set to hold on before Notts County levelled to ensure the spoils were shared.

It continues a mixed spell for both clubs. Rovers have shown they can impose themselves on opponents in possession and in transition, but converting those dominant periods into decisive wins remains the challenge for Grant McCann's side. The draw will add to a sense of what might have been, particularly with McCann having spoken previously about his team's tendency to give the ball away at costly moments.

For Notts County, the point extends a run that has seen Stuart Paterson's squad work through an early-season period of bedding in new signings, with the manager having spoken publicly about the need for his group to gel quickly following January and summer activity in the transfer market.

The bigger picture

Both sides will be keen to turn draws into wins as the League One season develops. Doncaster, with home support behind them at the Eco-Power Stadium, will believe they have the quality to climb the table if they can sharpen their finishing and stay more disciplined when they are on top.

County, meanwhile, showed enough to suggest they will not be easy opponents for anyone in the division, salvaging a share of the points despite Bailey's assertion that Rovers were the better team for much of the contest.

The two sides could yet meet again in a promotion or relegation context as the campaign progresses. For now, each takes a point and moves on, with a full fixture list providing little time to dwell on what this draw ultimately means.

Bailey's tone post-match was one of measured frustration rather than alarm. Rovers performed. They just did not win. In League One, that gap between performance and result is often the difference between a top-six finish and a mid-table season.

Frequently asked

What was the result between Doncaster Rovers and Notts County?
The match ended 1-1, with both clubs sharing the points in a League One fixture.
What did Doncaster captain Owen Bailey say after the draw with Notts County?
Bailey said Rovers were good for large spells of the game and felt they deserved more than a point, though he acknowledged a draw is never nothing in League One.
Where do Doncaster Rovers play their home games?
Doncaster Rovers play at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster.