Cook adds smattering of spice to run-in as Rovers '˜wobble'

It was four years ago that Rovers’ class of 2012-13 secured one of the most remarkable championship successes in recent years, going from likely League One play-off candidates to league winners in the space of 17 bewildering seconds following a last-gasp, never-to-be-forgotten victory at Brentford on April 27, 2013.

Thankfully this time around, Rovers know that dropping into the dreaded end-of-season lottery will not come into the equation after they clinched automatic promotion back on April 8.

But failing to gild a fine season with some silverware would provide a bit of a flat finale to 2016-17, with manager Darren Ferguson admitting he would be infuriated if Rovers failed to win the title.

Rovers have topped the table for the entirety of 2017, but find themselves under threat from Plymouth Argyle and potentially Portsmouth if their two-match losing sequence is extended in their final two matches against Exeter and Hartlepool.

The first of those games takes place at home to the Grecians this weekend, with Rovers able to seal the championship if they triumph and second-placed Argyle lose at home to Crewe.

Meanwhile, third-placed Pompey also have an outside chance of pipping Doncaster if the latter’s mini-dip continues and manager Paul Cook is not giving up hope, with his comments likely to have filtered their way north.

Cook, whose side are four points adrift of Doncaster with an identical goal difference, said: “Of course we believe we can still win the title. Fergie is having a right wobble, isn’t he?

“He has had a great season and I still think Doncaster will do it. (But) we must keep winning and being honest. Doncaster have had an unbelievable season.”