Rovers desperate for repeat trick in battle to avoid drop

After going behind in the 90th minute to the Railwaymen at the Keepmoat Stadium in mid-December, Rovers snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with two further strikes deep into stoppage time to snatch a miraculous 3-2 win.

As on that winter’s afternoon, the odds this time around are again stacked against Darren Ferguson’s side, who are three points adrift of safety with an inferior goal difference to fifth-from-bottom Fleetwood, with just two matches left this season.

But the Scot fully believes that third-from-bottom Rovers can stage another Lazarus style recovery to retain their division status if they win at relegated Crewe tomorrow.

Ferguson, whose side have taken seven points from their last nine available, said: “Everyone probably outside of the players and staff after the Bury game had us down.

“We were eight points out of it with five games to go and had not won in 17 games and were about to play the best team in the league (Wigan).

“The message was if we can beat these, we can beat anyone and I think we have taken that on.

“I really do feel if we can win the game on Saturday and get a bit of luck, then we have a really good chance.

“The players understand what they have got to do and are enjoying these games. They have got that belief now from performances and when we have that, we can be a good team. They have belief that they can get this job done.”

Ferguson has revealed that he will speak to Gary McSheffrey about joining the club on a full-time basis in the summer – after the influential loanee was ruled out of Rovers’ last two League One fixtures.