Doncaster Rovers v Bristol City: Dickov hails Rovers’ defensive mean streak

PAUL DICKOV has hailed Doncaster Rovers’ defensive mean sheen.
Paul DickovPaul Dickov
Paul Dickov

Rovers head into this afternoon’s third-round encounter with League One high-fliers Bristol City with three successive clean sheets under their belts, with a resolute back four having chalked up four shut-outs in their last six outings.

The likes of loan players Andy Butler, Enda Stevens and Sam Johnstone, all available for this afternoon’s tie, have excelled alongside Luke McCullough and Reece Wabara, who has rebuffed Championship interest to sign a contract extension with Rovers for the rest of the season.

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After back-to-back wins over Coventry and Swindon, with the former providing Rovers with a much-needed home win and a diligent draw at Peterborough, confidence is growing at the Keepmoat, although Dickov acknowledges that his side will have to be at their best against the Robins.

He said: “Defensively, we are looking really good at the moment, and we’re looking dangerous on the break, so it should be a good game against a really good team.

“It will be a good test for us.

“We have kept three clean sheets in a row and that is credit to all of the players.

“It’s not just the back five, it starts from Theo (Robinson) working his socks off up front. The lads in the middle have been doing their jobs as well.

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“I have always said, if you keep clean sheets you’ve got a chance. It’s not rocket science.”

Rovers’ modern-day history in the FA Cup is pretty lamentable, with the South Yorkshire club having reached the fourth round just once in the past 30 years since famously bowing out to Everton at Goodison Park in front of 10,000 travelling supporters in January, 1985 after shocking top-flight QPR in the third round.

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