Doncaster Rovers v Plymouth Argyle: Grant McCann's alternative league table gives hope
Grant McCann loves a good league table – on his own terms – and the Doncaster Rovers manager has been rolling one out this week to show his players things are better than they might feel.
At this stage of the season, league tables are not worth the paper they are written on, but League One's has Rovers on three points from four matches, and with nothing in the wins column.
But McCann has gone back over 20 games, in which time Doncaster have 30 points – a tally only eight clubs have bettered.
He has been drilling that into his players ahead of a visit from Tom Cleverley's Plymouth Argyle.
"We know we have a run of form, momentum, for a long period of time now – 20 games in this division, last season and this season," stressed McCann.
"The one thing we haven't done this season is win in the league. That's the next port of call for us."
Rovers are unbeaten in their last three league matches. "We're still searching for our first win but we can make that happen on Saturday," said forward Brandon Hanlan (inset) – substituted with an injury in midweek but like Sean Grehan and Neill Byrne, expected to be fit to face the Pilgrims.
"Three draws is deffo something to build on.
"We've got a lot of new players so it will take us a bit of time but we're heading in the right direction."
Right-backs Tom Nixon and Jamie Sterry are close to returns, but striker Frankie Okoronkwo suffered a setback in his rehab.
"Sometimes when you're out with an injury like that, you can get set back a little bit," said McCann on the latter. “He needs to reset his mind again. We're not going to see him for a while.
"Timeframe (for a return), I'm not sure. If anything, a few months.
"He's been through a bit of a tough time since he left here the first time. But he's a strong character, a positive type of person.”
James Collins, who joined on loan on Tuesday has not played since an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Decmeber. "He's closing in," said McCann. "He's out running. He's striking balls. He's twisting. He's turning.
"That will be a really good addition when he's back. He's been in a winning changing room. He knows what it takes to be successful.”