Harvie needed a good performance to impress Martin

Match-winner Daniel Harvie admitted he felt he needed a big performance against Doncaster Rovers to convince manager Russell Martin he should be in the side more regularly.

Harvie made his first start since the 3-0 defeat at Wigan, where he was substituted after just 32 minutes with Jordan Houghton with Dons trailing to the side then bottom of the table.

Saturday was only his second league start in two months, with his 10 appearances since all coming off the bench. As one of three changes to what has been a regular side for Dons recently, Harvie popped up on both flanks during the course of the game against Doncaster, came close to winning his side a penalty before thinking he'd scored in the first half only to see his shot tipped onto the post by Rovers keeper Louis Jones.

Switching onto the left flank for the second half, Harvie's 76th-minute effort took a touch off a Doncaster player before fizzing past Jones to give Dons the win - their fourth in a row - capping a great performance from the 22-year-old and one he felt he needed to impress the manager.

"I needed a big performance today," he said. "I've been out of the team for a few weeks and I had to show I should be in there. I felt I needed to show the gaffer I should be in the team for the next game and I'm pleased with that – it was a good day.

"It was a great performance from the boys. Four wins in a row is crucial for us to kick on and get higher up the table, so it was a good afternoon's work."

Not only putting in one of his best showings of the season, Harvie's goal certainly goes a long way in convincing Martin to keep him in the side for a tough trip to Lincoln City on Good Friday.

He added: "The position we play wants us to get amongst the goals. So it's good to contribute when I can. It was a great save that first one, I thought it was in! I thought I might get into another position to have to go, so I'm buzzing this one went in."