We're not far off, insists Doncaster Rovers' boss Ferguson

Doncaster Rovers' manager Darren Ferguson.

Rovers head into tomorrow’s home game with Southend with a number of damning statistics at their door with Ferguson’s side having not won in their past seven home league matches, a run stretching back to April 8.

Five losses have also arrived in their past six League One outings, but Ferguson is confident that his side can transform their season with a couple of decent results.

The Scot believes that Rovers’ displays have deserved more points and is urging his players to maintain their sense of belief.

He said: “I have still got a lot of confidence in my squad and I am not going to change my mind after two months.

“I have a lot of belief in them and they must make sure that they retain that belief in themselves and they know I have a lot of belief in them. We have spoken at length where we need to improve.

“We are not far off, we all know. Obviously, as a manager, you cannot keep saying that as it is all about results. But we feel Saturday is an opportunity and then we have got to find consistency.”

Ferguson may express confidence in his squad, but he is challenging his players to improve their decision-making and concentration in the final third of the pitch to end 19th-placed Rovers’ goalscoring issues.

Rovers have failed to find the net in six of their 11 league matches this term and Ferguson admits that his players do not need to be told twice that the statistic must be rectified – with a clear warning to his attack-minded players regarding the longer-term consequences if they do not.

Ferguson, set to welcome back Ian Lawlor and Matty Blair into the fray tomorrow, said: “We have got goals in us and, with the way I want to play and do play and the players we have got, we have not scored enough goals.

“Decision-making and concentration is key and the most important thing in the last area of the pitch.

“We have to keep practising and practising and if they cannot get it right something has to change, and we have to put someone else in who might be able to do it, and that is not putting too much pressure on them.”