Cotterill hopes Rovers and Blades can cut rest adrift

Plenty has changed since Cotterill raided down the flanks at Bramall Lane in United’s Championship days.

Manager Kevin Blackwell has long departed and that Blades side of 2009 has undergone a complete overhaul.

During that time, the 25-year-old Wales international has drifted from Swansea to Portsmouth and Barnsley before arriving at the Keepmoat Stadium last summer.

Rovers had just been relegated but, first under Dean Saunders and now Brian Flynn, are leading the League One table with just 10 games remaining.

Cotterill still has a soft spot for the Blades and has been reminded of the rivalry between the two South Yorkshire neighbours by Unitedite Billy Sharp.

The striker is a self-confessed Blades fantatic and, although now plying his trade at Nottingham Forest, Sharp has been cranking up the rivalry.

“Me and Billy Sharp were having a bit of banter about it on Twitter the other day,” said Cotterill.

“I want Doncaster to finish first, and the perfect scenario would be for United to finish second.

“There’s a long way and things can turn so quickly. We just have to worry what we are doing and nobody else. At the moment, my main focus is on what we do.

“United have changed a lot of their players since I was there. There have been so many changes. I know Dave Kitson and speak to him now and again.”

This weekend leaders Rovers have a tough trip to fellow promotion hopefuls Bournemouth, while MK Dons – fresh from facing Doncaster on Tuesday night – visit Bramall Lane.

The promotion race in League One is fierce. United, Rovers, Swindon, Bournemouth, Tranmere, Yeovil and Brentford are slugging it out, and several teams have enjoyed top spot.

Rovers – like the Blades – suffered a dip in form, going five games without a win. But back-to-back victories over Shrewsbury and Hartlepool hoisted Rovers top and Cotterill revealed the players may have suffered through over-confidence.

“Every game in this league is a tough one and we went through a bad spell where we went into games thinking we could win just by turning up,” he said.

“We need to make sure we stick together. We went through a phase where we thought we were going to win every game, and obviously it’s not as easy as that.

“I think it’s probably been a bit strange for the lads (to be top) because we probably went on our worst run of the season. We got a couple of draws together, then a win, and found ourselves top.

“We are lucky the other teams went through a bad patch at the same time as us. I think everyone is confident now; the late winner against Shrewsbury probably gave everyone a lift. We showed that with the win over Hartlepool.

“We need to make sure we stay tight as a unit going into games. You saw Bournemouth were top a couple of weeks ago; they lose two games on the bounce and they are out of the top six.

“We went back to basics, made sure we didn’t lose the game, and got a couple of draws. That late victory then when Kyle Bennett scored (against Shrewsbury) definitely helped us.

“I feel we are the best team in the league. Hopefully we can go on and open up the gap between us and second, and the third place.”

Cotterill is refusing to set any points target for promotion, believing that also contributed to their troubles last month.

“We worked it out (points target) a few games back and that probably set us off track a little bit. We were thinking, ‘oh, if we get this amount of wins we are going to get promoted’.

“We just want to take maximum points and that will keep us top. There have been a few leaders who have not been able to stay top, so now it’s just about keeping your nerve until the end of the season.

“I have been happy with my own season so far, (but) I would have liked a few more goals. I have probably been more consistent than I have ever been this season.

“It would mean everything to get out of this league. We have all come to Rovers with one focus and that’s to get promoted.”

When Saunders quit to join Wolverhampton there was a worry that Rovers might stumble, but under new boss Flynn – and with the immense presence of captain Rob Jones – the Keepmoat Stadium club have managed to maintain their promotion challenge.

Cotterill knows Flynn, formerly the club’s chief scout, from the latter’s days in charge of Wales Under-21s and believes the contrast in management styles is stark.

“Continuity was always important,” said Cotterill. “We had a lot of success under Dean Saunders and it was important we kept things the way they were going.

“Sometimes, a new manager comes in and changes things and it’s not always the best thing for the team. Obviously, Rob Jones has been a great help too, he’s a great leader in the dressing room.

“I think we probably don’t play as direct as we used to. We probably had more of a long-ball sort of game.

“Now I think everyone is playing with a little bit more freedom and we are linking up play a bit better. We are playing better football.

“Brian likes his players to be relaxed, he doesn’t put too much pressure on the players.

“I worked with him for the Wales Under-21s so I knew what he was like anyway.

“He likes it be a lot more relaxed than Dean Saunders, where he was more intense. Everyone has their own way of doing things.

“I think Brian has lost it (his temper) a couple of times here, but I have seen him do a lot worse with the Under-21s so I am sure if anyone crosses the line Brian will put them in their place.”