Former Lane striker Saunders wary of backlash as Rovers target home delights

The Blades could have started to establish a strangle-hold on League One with an emphatic destruction of whipping boys Hartlepool United last Saturday.

But in one of the more surprising results of the festive period, United were humbled by the division’s bottom club and missed the chance to stamp their authority on the promotion race.

Rovers go into the derby buoyed by a 3-0 win at Preston which further enhanced their reputation as the third tier’s best away team.

Yet their only defeat in nine in the league was a 4-1 defeat by Coventry at the Keepmoat, and Saunders knows full-well the pitfalls that can come from over-confidence.

“You saw the kick in the teeth we had against Coventry and the players have reacted brilliantly from that,” said Saunders.

“That was one of those games, just as the Hartlepool game was for Sheffield United.

“United are hard to beat, solid, they don’t let many goals in and they suffered a coupon-buster on Saturday, but football is strange.

“I expect them to bounce back, so we’ve got to make sure we’re solid, hard to play against and if they beat us it’s through good play from them, not mistakes or a let-up from us.”

While the Blades begin the year hoping to finish a job they narrowly failed to complete last term, Doncaster’s promotion bid does not have as much pressure surrounding it.

They began their first season after relegation hoping to consolidate, but as the strong performances and subsequent wins have racked up, so the increase in expectation has developed.

Saunders is not one to concern himself with what other teams are doing – whether or not they are local rivals – just as long as his own team continue to amass the points.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing we’ve got to just keep banging the results out,” he said.

“Where we are in the league is down to goal difference, or a point or two either way, so if you put three wins together you can travel up the league. It makes a massive difference. We’ve won two on the trot, so today we’ll see if we can make it three.”

Saunders hinted at the Blades’ ‘route-one’ style when the two drew 0-0 at Bramall Lane in September. But between Wilson’s praise for Doncaster yesterday and Saunders’s respect for a club he once played for, there has been nothing but admiration in the build-up to today’s game.

“Sheffield United is a great club, a big club, the biggest in the league by a mile. I enjoyed playing there, we had a good team and it was a good time,” said the Rovers chief.

“I wasn’t there for that long but I played in the semi-final of the FA Cup against Newcastle at Old Trafford, I played in the play-off semi-finals against Sunderland home and away. With some of the players we had we were a team of internationals.

“I banged some goals in. I’m probably best remembered by the fans for throwing the ball in off the goalkeeper’s back.

“I also played with Danny when I was at Brighton so this game’s got a bit of edge to it all round.”

Rovers have a game in hand on the Blades and will climb above them with a victory today.

With the team so strong away from home, Saunders is hoping to reward the 600 fans who went to Preston, and those who will arrive at the Keepmoat today, with a first home win since November 27.

“We cannot rest on the Preston win, we’ve got to put it behind us and on we go,” said Saunders.

“We’re bang on form, away from home especially.

“We’ve lost one in the last nine and won six of them, so we’re moving forward and hopefully (in January) we’ll add a few names to the squad.”

James Coppinger has already bolstered Saunders’s options, with the midfielder having returned from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest. Iain Hume is back after missing the win at parent club Preston.

Last six games: Doncaster LDDLWW, Sheffield United DWDWWL.

Referee: D Coote (Nottinghamshire).

Last time: Doncaster 2 Sheffield United 0; October 23, 2010; Championship.