Boss showers praise on players and fans
BRILLIANT boss Sean O'Driscoll is up for the Championship manager of the month award which will be announced today.
The Doncaster Rovers coach has led his side away from the bottom of the table at Christmas to 14th in the space of eleven games with an incredible run of results playing football that has been admired in all quarters.
But he shrugged off all the accolades yesterday and instead heaped praise on his players - and the fans.
O'Driscoll said: "It's nice to receive a bit of recognition for what you do but really I think it should be renamed the club of the month award.
"Managers get too much praise when it's all going well and too much stick when it isn't.
"We are not safe yet but what we have achieved so far is really down to the players.
"The fans have played a massive part and the chairman and the directors also deserve some recognition for the way they reacted when we were in the bottom three for so long.
"We've all been in it together in a sense - and we've come a long way.
"We've been on an adventure in the Championship and the aim was always to hang in there so we can enjoy the experience again next year.
"I think this club has a lot to be proud of.
"We play our part in the local community and it's nice to be able to give people in the town something to cheer in harsh economic times."
Rovers' remarkable run continued with 2-1 victories at home to Derby and away to Charlton in the space of five days with the team displaying commendable confidence and character on both occasions.
It means that during the last 11 league games Rovers have won nine and drawn once - and if the campaign had started at Christmas they would be three points clear at the top of the table!
O'Driscoll said: "We were playing well before Christmas without getting results and its difficult to pinpoint what the difference is now.
"I think we've become more organised and learned as we've gone on but probably the main thing is that now we are scoring goals.
"If you look at all the games since Christmas I think there is only one in which either James Coppinger or Paul Heffernan has not scored and it's terrific if you have players in that sort of form.
"But obviously it's not just down to them and everyone else deserves credit for the way they have performed."
He added: "The challenge now is can we keep it going?
"This game can be very unforgiving if you ever take your eye off the ball - especially at the level we are playing at.
"We want to keep on performing and finish as high as we can and that will give us a platform on which to build for next season."
Rovers amazing run will receive one of its toughest tests on Saturday when they visit Cardiff City who have proved themselves the hardest team to beat in the Championship this season losing just five times - fewer than anyone else.
They then face a run of three successive home games against some of the biggest clubs in the Championship starting with Queens Park Rangers next Tuesday night.
O'Driscoll added: "If we can get something at Cardiff it will set us up for the home games.
"They are all attractive games for the fans who have been really brilliant this season.
"They didn't turn against us when we were on the bottom and they have played a huge part in helping us get where we are."
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Weather for Doncaster
Friday 25 May 2012
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