Viral Doncaster Rovers moment is embarrassing not detrimental - Exeter City might prey on clear weakness though | OneFootball

A goalkeeping howler went viral in Doncaster Rovers' latest pre-season game.

A goalkeeping howler went viral in Doncaster Rovers' latest pre-season game, but there is no reason to be concerned.

The newly-promoted Sky Bet League One outfit faced Blackpool in their final match of pre-season, drawing 1-1 after captain Owen Bailey equalised in the second-half. It followed a defensive mess in the first-half that saw Steve Bruce's men break the deadlock.

Thimothee Lo-Tutala went viral for the wrong reasons

The howler came courtesy of Thimothee Lo-Tutala, the young French shot-stopper who returned for a second loan spell at the Eco-Power Stadium this summer.

As Doncaster looked to play out from the back, the Hull City loanee was caught in possession and, in turning away from the on-rushing Ashley Fletcher, flicked the ball into the back of his own net.

It was a shocking piece of defending, as a sideways pass to one of the two Rovers central defenders immediately put Lo-Tutala under pressure, which very swiftly turned into a shameful goal.

The initial pass to new recruit Sean Grehan, who joined on a permanent basis from Premier League Crystal Palace earlier in the summer transfer window, was a bad decision. It allowed Fletcher to pounce and force the mistake which led to the opening goal.

The former Spurs youngster Lo-Tutala perhaps needs to get rid of a few cobwebs after playing only one game last season. He was an emergency loanee for Crawley Town, keeping a clean sheet in his only appearances for the then-League One club.

It is no concern for Grant McCann and Doncaster Rovers

While the howler was far from ideal in providing a first impression to the vast majority of Doncaster supporters for the upcoming season, taking place in the first (and only) home fixture of the pre-season slate, it is by no means a cause for concern.

It is actually a good thing to get these sorts of issues out of the way before the competitive action begins, releasing some of the pressure and letting the teething problems take their course.

One incident is no reason to worry about a strong goalkeeper who impressed for Doncaster in his original loan spell, nor is it a reasonable spark for calls to abandon the more forward-thinking playing out from the back style of football Grant McCann employs.

However, that being said, the overall defensive issues that were on display for part of the draw with Blackpool will certainly be a disappointment. The first-half, where new signings Connor O'Riordan (on loan from Blackburn Rovers) and the aforementioned Grehan played, saw a mostly shaky defensive display.

There is time for McCann to rectify the problems seen in his side's first clash with a team in the same division for the upcoming term, with Exeter City just around the corner on the opening day of the third tier campaign. Whilst Doncaster will play it down as one of those things that happens to most professional footballers from time to time, Exeter will have seen the viral footage and, no doubt, their team meetings will have mentioned putting additional pressure on Doncaster's risky build-up tactic given how it was exploited by Blackpool.

For the South Yorkshire outfit, though, no single incident, no matter how viral the clip went, should inform decisions or feelings ahead of the season. Doncaster are in good shape after a heavy bout of summer recruitment to strengthen and replenish their League Two title-winning squad.

The scrutiny of any defensive errors in the first game of the season, though, will no doubt hold water.