McCammon backing Rovers to edge Brentford

The Londoner has split loyalties having played for both combatants and was a Rovers player the last time they needed a victory on the final day of the regular season to clinch promotion to the Championship.

That ended in heartache in April 2008 with Rovers failing to get the victory they needed to claim second spot behind Swansea City, going down 2-1 at Cheltenham Town with Nottingham Forest pipping them by a point after sinking Yeovil.

This weekend’s scenario is unmistakably similar with Rovers again in second place in League One and in the box seat for promotion, although the Bees will usurp them if they beat them in front of a capacity Griffin Park crowd, with McCammon to watch the action unfold from a corporate box.

McCammon, who played in that final-day decider at Cheltenham with Rovers casting aside their disappointment to go up via the play-offs at Wembley at Leeds United’s expense at Wembley, said: “I am a bit neutral having also played for them. But if I am honest, I think Donny will do it.

“If Donny can get an early goal, it will really put Brentford under pressure and they will have to come at them and that will create holes. Donny can then catch them on the break.

“But whoever goes up, I will be pleased for them.”

Rovers have memorable experiences on their only two previous forays in the end-of-season lottery, with glory in 2007-08 following on from ectastic scenes at the Britannia Stadium in May 2003, when a golden goal from Francis Tierney saw them beat Dagenham in the Conference play-offs and return to the Football League.

In contrast, Brentford’s play-off story is one of acute pain with six failures and McCammon admits the Bees will be desperate to secure the conventional route to promotion.

He said: “We were a bit unfortunate in not going up on the last day at Doncaster, but we went up in the best way possible.

“It was a long trip home from Cheltenham and so disappointing. But when you have great professionals like Richie Wellens and Brian Stock, Paul Green and James Coppinger, we picked ourselves up. The manager was down, but he just said: ‘Report in on Monday and we start again.’

“The winning mentality, enthusiasm and diligence made us get promoted and hopefully that will happen again for Doncaster if it is the play-offs.”