Being a top-10 hit would be music to boss Ferguson’s ears
IT IS fair to say that Doncaster Rovers have travelled some way since autumn when there were rumblings of discontent from some supporters regarding Darren Ferguson’s position as manager.
Rovers have saved their best until last In a season disrupted by injuries with the incentive of a top-ten finish to round off a far from straightforward campaign being a considerable one, according to Ferguson.
Ferguson’s side face the first instalment of a home triple-header tonight, with five of their final six fixtures being at the Keepmoat Stadium.
He said: “There is huge motivation for us to get three points on Tuesday because that can take us into the top half of the table, so it is a big game for us in that respect.
“It would be a successful season for us if we were to finish inside the top 10 in League One this season, but I have said it all along that we just want to take it game by game and give every game the respect that it deserves.
“Myself and the players have worked together a long time now and we know that we do not want to let the season just float away. There are points to be won and the players understand that.”
Ferguson has confirmed that defender Joe Wright, who has caught the eye in an impressive 2017-18, is likely to be out for the rest of the season after injuring his ankle at the weekend.
He said: “Joe rolled his ankle and we do not know how long he will be (out).
“We have got two and a half, three weeks to go. I think he is going to be struggling to play again this season.” PLAY-OFF CONUNDRUMS will hopefully dominate Paul Warne’s attention in the coming weeks, but it is a case of first things first for the Rotherham United manager.
The Millers’ chief believes that one win will be enough for his fourth-placed side effectively to book their place in the end-ofseason lottery – with victory at Gillingham enabling planning to begin with three games to go.
Warne said: “I sort have hammered the lads a little bit (yesterday) and said, ‘We have not actually achieved anything yet.’ You do not want to tempt fate.
“If we get a win that is as near as damn it and it means that other teams have to win all their games, which is difficult as they are all playing each other.
“I would like to think we are pretty close to achieving what we set out for and then it is all about where you finish in it.”
If the Millers’ first mission is achieved in Kent, Warne will quickly turn his mind to ensuring that his players and squad enter the play-offs at optimum freshness, more especially in a mental sense.
Acknowledging that key facet, he added: “They are football fit, but I need to keep them football fresh. So if there are opportunities to change a few things then I will.
“If we are deserving of a playoff place, I do not want to stagger into them or hammer the same 11 and they get into the play-offs and are fatigued.
“When I was at Oldham a few years ago we played Blackpool in the play-offs and it was the same team all year and when we got into them, we were dead mentally and physically.”