Doncaster Rovers: I'm not here for the ride - Matthews

Loanee Remi Matthews insists he could not be accused of not caring whether or not Doncaster Rovers are relegated to League Two.
Remi MatthewsRemi Matthews
Remi Matthews

The goalkeeper was parachuted into Rovers’ relegation fight a fortnight ago when he joined on loan from Norwich City.

While he is relatively new to life at the Keepmoat, the 22-year-old says his dedication to the cause should not be questioned.

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And he believes Rovers should be operating at the other end of the division from where they currently find themselves.

“I’ve not come in to look at it as ‘if we get relegated, we get relegated,’ not at all,” Matthews said. “I could easily say I’m going back to Norwich but I want to come here and I show I do care and I want to keep the team in League One.

“I don’t want anyone to get the impression I’ve only come here for a few games and then I’ll go back.

“That’s not what I want to do. I want to do the best I can do to keep this club in League One because it’s where they should be.

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“They should potentially be challenging for a return to the Championship.

“No way should they be down where they are at the minute.

“I don’t want to say ‘if we get relegated’ because I don’t think we will.

“But if we do, I want to look back on it and say ‘I gave it my best crack and I’ve done everything I could’.”

Matthews spent the first half of the season on loan at promotion-chasing Burton Albion, making six appearances for the Brewers including one in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Rovers.

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While the clubs have had drastically differing fortunes this season, Matthews says he has seen little difference between the two on the training ground.

He said: “It’s a great team here and I’ve seen a lot of potential in it.

“In training we’ve been flying. It’s a case of carrying that into games, dig in and take it from there.

“Coming in, I saw a good team spirit. The lads are positive. I was at Burton and their mindset was exactly the same.

“There’s some good players in the team, they’ve stuck together.

“One win would change everything.”