New faces earn praise 
from Doncaster chief

DONCASTER ROVERS manager Paul Dickov believes there is plenty to come from in-form trio Bongani Khumalo, Richie Wellens and Theo Robinson.

The three recent signings have impressed as Rovers claimed four points against Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers – a tally which could easily have been a full six.

All look to be shrewd acquisitions with Wellens expected to be fit for today’s game at The Valley, despite coming off with a dead leg in the second half of Tuesday’s draw with FA Cup holders Wigan.

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Dickov said: “With Bongs, Richie Wellens and even Theo, sometimes it takes three or four games to get into your stride.

“Once they get a few more under their belt within the team environment we have got, then you will see the best of them.

“We have a lot of desire and commitment and when you put that with the quality we’ve got in the likes of Coppinger, Cotterill, Wellens and Theo and Chris Brown up front, we’ve got a decent team. We’ve been very careful with the players we have brought in so that they integrate.”

Rovers produced an impressive performance at the DW with organisation and work-rate intermingling with plenty of quality going forward, leaving Dickov proud of his players’ efforts.

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It followed on from the victory over Blackburn and on the opening-day performance against Blackpool, when Rovers were unlucky not to take anything from that encounter which ended in a flattering 3-1 success to the Seasiders.

A noticeable facet of Rovers this season has been their ferocious appetite for work, something that Dickov prided himself upon in his playing career.

Dickov, whose former Leicester City team-mate Chris Powell is in the opposing dug-out at Charlton today, said: “I have a team and a squad who are so honest and they will give me everything they have got. We keep telling them that when they do that we will always have a chance of winning games.

“You can’t always shine when you have got the ball and sometimes what a lot of players do without the ball goes unnoticed. But it doesn’t go unnoticed by this manager.

“There is a a fantastic unity at the club, from the fans all the way through at the minute. It’s something we want to keep and gives everyone that bit of belief.”