Swindon v Doncaster Rovers: Top-six not target for Doncaster or Dickov

Given the summer of turmoil they endured – with an on-off takeover collapsing and leaving the club with barely any players – Rovers boss Dickov has reiterated that merely being in the shake-up for the play-offs come the end of the season would be deemed a success.

Doncaster have struggled for consistency this season, with their strong away form being undermined by how poor they are at the Keepmoat Stadium.

“If we win our game in hand we go four points off the play-offs,” said Dickov, whose side are four places and three points above the bottom four.

“If we win on Saturday we can go into the new year pushing for the top half. That’s roughly about where we should be.

“Top six has never been an aim for us. It would be fantastic if we could make it. All along we’ve been talking about getting a bit of consistency of selection and stability into the club.

“If we can be there or thereabouts come the end of the season then fantastic. If we keep players fit and stay clear of suspensions then we won’t be far away.

“But the ultimate aim at the minute is to go into January in the top half of the table then we’ll take it from there.

“I want promotion, but we have to be realistic. We had a small time to prepare, we knew it was going to be tough, and it’s a much tougher league.”

On the club’s poor home form, he added: “We’re under-achieving. One home win all season doesn’t make great reading. We’re not going to kid ourselves, it’s not good enough.”

Dickov revealed he is in discussions with Sheffield United over keeping Andy Butler at the club and is looking to extend the contracts of Reece Wabara and Luke McCullough.