Doncaster Rovers: Ferguson delivers '˜not good enough' verdict

That was the verdict of Darren Ferguson when asked why Doncaster Rovers find themselves with a mountain to climb to avoid relegation to League Two.

Ferguson admitted finding it difficult to produce reasons as to why Rovers have sunk this season.

While Rovers produced nine wins from his first 15 games in charge, it means little when they do not win for the next 17.

“As a manager you have to have answers to questions but it is a hard one to explain,” he told The Star.

“We’d have to look at it and you’d have to say we’ve not been good enough.

“That’s the only way I can explain it really.

“Over that short period we were good.

“But the season lasts a lot longer than 15 games.”

Ferguson expects Rovers will already have been relegated in the eyes of many onlookers but he has called on his players to produce performances that show they have not conceded defeat.

He said: “I would imagine everyone has got us relegated which you would understand.

“But we don’t want to be giving performances where we’re resigned to thinking like that.

“The last two in particular have not been like that. I think they’ve been from a team that still believe they can get out of it.”

Riccardo Calder faces a race to be fit in time for Saturday’s visit of table topping Wigan Athletic.

Calder suffered a hamstring strain in the draw at Rochdale last week and missed the defeat to Bury.