O’Driscoll the man to lift Doncaster’s fortunes – Coppinger

Rovers, bottom of the Championship table, will equal an unwanted club record of 20 consecutive league games without a win if they fail to beat Crystal Palace tomorrow at the Keepmoat Stadium.

O’Driscoll, who was given a vote of confidence this week by chairman John Ryan, opted not to attend yesterday’s pre-match press conference.

However Coppinger, the club’s longest serving player, stressed that he still had the full support of the dressing room.

“It’s a testing time for the manager and for the players but there is no better person to take this club forward,” he said. “We are not the worst team in the league and we have a good set of players. The lads are right behind him and it’s just a matter of time before results improve.”

Striker Jon Parkin’s arrival on loan from Cardiff City and the return to fitness of captain Brian Stock and midfielder Ryan Mason are timely boosts for Rovers while record signing Billy Sharp is also back in training ahead of schedule after suffering a nasty ankle injury on the opening day of the season.

Coppinger believes the extra competition will help trigger a reversal in fortunes and Rovers, who were a non-league club just eight years ago, will survive in the Championship for a fourth consecutive season.

“As a professional footballer, it’s embarrassing being bottom of the league,” he said. “I don’t think anyone imagined we would be in the situation we are in.

“If we don’t start performing and putting results together soon we are going to make it even harder,” he admitted. “But there are lots of positives. We now have two home games coming up and it’s still early in the season. Getting players back is another massive positive. We can do something about it – but if this had come late on, we might have been struggling.”

Now 30, Middlesbrough-born Coppinger has spent over seven years with Rovers and enjoys life in the area where he lives with his family among the club’s supporters.

Despite the current situation at the club, he has been hugely impressed with the patience shown by the majority of supporters and says that will be another important factor in the next few weeks.

“At some clubs, if you were bottom of the league, you would be getting abuse wherever you go. I live in Doncaster and people still stop me in the street and wish me all the best. It’s great to have them on your side. The fans have been patient and grown with the way we play. If they stick with us, it will help us turn it around.

“We have had a lot of good times at Doncaster and the gaffer has kept the club in the Championship for three years so is obviously a fantastic manager,” he added. “The chairman’s words this week also show great faith in the gaffer and hopefully he will build on that.”

After tomorrow’s game with Palace Rovers host Yorkshire rivals Hull City next Tuesday night.

Defender Tommy Spurr (groin) is the latest to join the club’s injury list.