Doncaster Rovers: The system isn't to blame insists Andy Butler

Andy Butler insists Rovers' three-at-the-back system would have worked at Blackpool had the players carried out the game plan of boss Darren Ferguson.
Andy ButlerAndy Butler
Andy Butler

The change in formation has proved a controversial one following the disappointing 4-2 defeat at Bloomfield Road.

Many supporters remain unconvinced a three man defence is best for Rovers, particularly as they have impressed in a 4-4-2 diamond for much of the season.

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But club captain Butler refused to blame the switch in formation for Rovers’ downfall at Blackpool.

“There were a few mistakes we made as a defensive unit and as a team,” he told The Star.

“Even if we’d have played four at the back, there were still mistakes that would have been made so we now have to rectify them.

“We work on different formations all the time. It’s the gaffer’s decision to make the change because he’s seen a weakness in the opposition.

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“Whatever the gaffer picks, it’s his decision and we get on with it.

“We had a full week to prepare for the game and we did a lot of work on the formation.

“By rights, we should know what to do and how to play that.

“But we just didn’t put it into play.”

Butler refused to be too downhearted by the defeat and believes October will be seen as a positive month for the club if Rovers beat Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

He said: “It has been a positive month for us. We won every game other than the Blackpool one.

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“If we get a positive result next weekend, it’s been a positive month.

“We’re still in third place. We want to be higher than that.

“We have to keep our home form going and really hammer home that it’s been a good month and that we can roll onto the next one.

“We’re always trying to improve.

“If we’d have won we’d have still demanded improvement.

“Even after Colchester, we won the game but we still didn’t believe we’d played that well.

“We’re a learning side. We’ll learn from this, put the mistakes right and move on.”