Rovers are ready to challenge Leeds as Yorkshire’s top team

While the gap between promotion-chasing Leeds and injury-hit Rovers is a not inconsiderable 12 points ahead of Saturday’s Elland Road meeting, Ryan is confident Doncaster can fill the South Yorkshire power vacuum caused by the struggles of the two Sheffield clubs, Wednesday and United.

Ryan even predicted last year troubled times lay ahead for the two Sheffield clubs.

His statement came to fruition in May when Wednesday were relegated to League One on the final day of the season and United look like they could follow suit under Micky Adams.

The Blades have not won any of their last 14 games, dating back to December 18 last year, and head into this weekend’s game against in-form Portsmouth six points adrift of safety.

“I think Sheffield United will be joining Wednesday in League One,” said Ryan.

“I think United, if they go down, which I think they will, will have a heck of a job in League One to sustain things. They are in a heck of a mess. Maybe Wednesday are in a better position, but I don’t think they are going to do much this year.

“I predicted a year ago the demise of Sheffield football. It does not give me any satisfaction, but I predicted it.

“I said Barnsley and Doncaster would actually eclipse United and Wednesday on the field, which, of course, is exactly what more than likely will happen.

“Wednesday and United will be in division three, with Rovers and Barnsley in division two. I am sure it’s never happened before.”

While finances at the Keepmoat and Oakwell have remained stable, Wednesday and United are still paying the price for over-stretching themselves after their fall from the Premier League.

Doncaster’s opponents on Saturday, Leeds United, know more than most how far a club can tumble if they sacrifice financial stability to chase results.

“Leeds United are a perfect example of what gambling can do to you,” said Ryan. “They are on their way back now, but they had fallen a long way.”

Tuesday night’s 3-1 win at Derby County means Rovers have pulled themselves away from being dragged into the Championship relegation dogfight.

It eases the pressure on Saturday’s trip to Elland Road, a rematch of the League One play-off final in 2008 at Wembley, in which James Hayter’s header shortly after the start of the second half sealed Rovers’ promotion into the Championship.

Ryan would love a repeat scoreline of their last visit to Leeds that season, a 1-0 win thanks to Brian Stock’s free-kick, but accepts his Doncaster side are still struggling to cope with a lengthy injury list which numbers 14 first-team players.

“We had 14 first-team players injured and you can’t get away from that in the Championship,” he said.

“Although we are doing our best, we are just waiting for the next two or three weeks to go by so we can get some of our players back. It would be a very different team to the one we are putting out at the moment.”

Despite the depleted squad, impressive draws against Norwich and Watford, followed by Tuesday’s win over the Rams – with striker Billy Sharp twice finding the back of the net – means Rovers, one-time dark horses for a play-off place, can once again start looking up the table, instead of down.

“Norwich was a very good result and we played very well against Watford, we should have won really. But I think we just have enough to stay out of trouble.

“It was an important game against Derby, because the bottom three seem to be losing just as badly as we are, but we started in a much better position.

“We need a couple more wins and we will be well on our way to safety.”

Rovers assistant manager Richard O’Kelly hailed striker Sharp, who took his goal tally for the season to 15 with Tuesday’s double.

He said: “Billy Sharp has scored two goals but he brings so much more to the environment he’s in. He brings an enthusiasm, he brings a desire and he drags others along with him.

“He doesn’t take fools gladly, he wants to be successful and people get a buzz off what Billy does.

“Billy brings more to the table than just goals.”

O’Kelly also picked out the Rovers defence and goalkeeper Gary Woods for praise.

“The goal gave us a big lift, I thought Derby were the better side in the opening 25 minutes and our goalkeeper has probably pulled off a save that has won us the match,” said O’Kelly.

“The rest of the defence showed good resilience during that time and the goal certainly helped because after that goal, it certainly gave us a lift.”

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