Doncaster Rovers' boss Darren Ferguson issues defiant response as troubles deepen

Mark Cullen’s deflected 87th-minute effort gave Blackpool a priceless victory on Easter Monday and inflicted an 11th defeat in 12 games on Doncaster.

It is all a far cry from where Rovers were on January 2, after a 3-0 win at Southend saw them rise to 11th in the table with the play-offs in their sights.

A dramatic collapse since then has left them on the brink of relegation to the Football League’s basement division.

But Ferguson believes he can inspire his players to claw back a four-point deficit in the last seven games and ensure survival.

Asked if he believes he is the man or orchestrate such a revival, Ferguson said: “I do, and so do the players.

“I feel the performance today in terms of what we got was better, but we’re in a position now where it shouldn’t take 15 games without winning to get that.

“The run we’re on is horrendous but I’m convinced I’ll get it right and I would urge the fans to stick with us because this is a long-term project.

“I’m not going to pass the buck because 15 games without a win is terrible, and I’m the manager, I pick the players, but looking at the bigger picture, this was always going to be a long-term project. I’ve got to take responsibility, so does everyone else, the players in particular, that was the point I was making on Friday.”

That point came amid an angry tirade at his players following the second-half collapse at Colchester, another relegation rival, that heightened the pressure on the return to the Keepmoat Stadium.

Rovers haven’t won on home soil since December 12, picking up just two points in nine league games in front of their own fans.

But even in defeat, Ferguson felt he got the requisite response.

“I criticised them Friday for the right reasons, but I’m not going to criticise them today. They’re gutted,” he said.

“I got a response. I picked a team I felt would get a response, not just for me, for everyone.

“Psychologically there’s a problem, but hopefully a win gets that belief back.

“It’s been the worst possible Easter in terms of results.

“It’s going to be difficult. We have to continue believing we can get out of it because we’re running out of time.”