Saunders delighted with the progress being made by new faces at Doncaster

Dean Saunders is pleased with the start made by Doncaster Rovers, particularly given their overhaul of personnel.

His side sit seventh in League One, a point adrift of the play-off places and nine shy of leaders Tranmere Rovers, their hosts tonight.

“When clubs get relegated you can go right through to the next league. No one’s thought of that, but I have,” said Saunders.

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“Especially when you lose 26 players in 12 months like I have.

“I signed nine new players. You’re not going to get them all right, they’re not all going to be successes but you just try to get the majority right.

“At the moment, the players I have brought in are doing great.”

Two of those were to the fore on Saturday against Brentford, with David Cotterill and Billy Paynter turning defeat into a victory they scarcely deserved.

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Doncaster are by no means the finished article and, like Ronnie Moore’s Tranmere, are adjusting their targets as they rack up the points.

Saunders said: “You get to 50 points as quickly as possible, that’s the aim, like Tranmere, and you change your goals as you go along.

“Tranmere have changed their goals now to ‘can we get in the play-offs?’ They’re scoring goals for fun and fair play to them.”

Saunders yesterday signed former Stoke and Reading full-back Andy Griffin on a non-contract basis. The manager would also like cover in the centre of defence after Shelton Martis was ruled out for a month.

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Griffin, 33, has been without a club since being released by Reading in May. He is registered to play at Prenton Park tonight.

Former Wolves midfielder Sammy Clingan is also training at Doncaster.

Last six games: Tranmere WDWWWL, Doncaster WLWWDW.

Last time: Tranmere 0 Doncaster 1; March 1, 2008; League One.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).