Doncaster Rovers v Walsall: Promotion marathon will go to wire – Dickov

His side lie exactly in mid-table, but such is the condensed nature of the division that they are just three points behind fifth-placed Chesterfield heading into today’s clash with another top-six aspirant in Walsall.

All told, just 10 points separate fifth-from-bottom Crewe 
Alexandra and the Spireites and the Rovers boss says that he would take being just three points off the play-off spots, heading into April.

On the prospect of the play-off race going down to the last day, Dickov said: “If you look at the table now, it would be stupid to say it won’t.

“Everyone will be taking points off each other.

“Sometimes, you are expecting one or two to pull away, but it never seems to happen,” added Dickov.

“I think it will be very tight up to the end of the season.

“As long as we are in that pack leading into this last month of the season, we’ll be happy.”

Rovers were humbled 3-0 at the Banks’s Stadium in late September and while acknowledging it was a reality check, Dickov says his side are much improved and stronger since then, and also far more consistent.

He added: “It was a reality check, not just for myself, but the players as well.

“But we are a different squad in terms of personnel and confidence in players who have got up to speed fitness-wise and the squad we can pick from.

“Walsall are a very good, hard-working team with a good record away from home, so we have got to be wary of it.

“They turned us over convincingly at their place, so if we need any warning sign, we have just got to look at that game,” concluded Dickov.