Doncaster Rovers v Notts County: Fortress Keepmoat vital to Rovers' hopes

MANAGER Darren Ferguson has challenged Doncaster Rovers to go unbeaten at the Keepmoat Stadium to clinch promotion back to League One.
FORTRESS KEEPMOAT: Doncaster Rovers' manager Darren Ferguson. Picture: Tony JohnsonFORTRESS KEEPMOAT: Doncaster Rovers' manager Darren Ferguson. Picture: Tony Johnson
FORTRESS KEEPMOAT: Doncaster Rovers' manager Darren Ferguson. Picture: Tony Johnson

Rovers are two weeks shy of going 12 months without tasting defeat on their home turf, the last time being against Blackpool on March 28, 2016.

This fine home record has helped Ferguson’s team go top of League Two, 14 points clear of the play-off spots and fourth-placed Stevenage.

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With five home games left, starting tonight with the visit of strugglers Notts County, Ferguson believes their Keepmoat form could secure promotion.

“We need to try, if we can, to keep that unbeaten home record until the end of the season,” said the Rovers manager.

“That would get us a long way to where we need to get to. Obviously we have another home game now (Notts County) and we are looking forward to that.

“If you keep getting seven points out of nine, you win the league.”

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This is Doncaster’s points haul from their last three games following a win at Cambridge United, a goalless draw at Crawley and Saturday’s impressive 2-0 success over Cheltenham Town.

With 72 points from 36 games, it keeps the two points-per-game ratio that is generally regarded as promotion form.

“We are bang on target, with 10 games to go, but I think it will be very difficult to get right on 92 points at the end of the season,” added Ferguson.

“But the message to my players is we are four points ahead of Plymouth – and a few goals, which could come into it – but we have to beat the next team in front of us, which is Notts County on Tuesday.

“I am not looking any further ahead than that.

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“It was good to have back-to-back clean sheets, which is really important at this stage of the season.

“We’re a team that are capable of scoring goals and creating chances, so keeping clean sheets will always give us a chance.”

Last six games: Doncaster Rovers LDDWDW Notts County DWDWLW

Referee: N Miller (County Durham).

Last time: Doncaster Rovers 0 Notts County 0; January 20, 2015; League One.