Doncaster Rovers: Jordan Houghton refuses to set survival points target

Rovers travel to Blackpool on Good Friday knowing victory would take them to within one point of the magical 50-point mark.

Darren Ferguson’s side are currently 15th in League One, six points clear of the drop zone.

“To be honest I don’t really look at like we have to get into a certain position,” Houghton told The Star.

“We’ve got a lot of teams to play that are in and around us so it’s down to us to pick up the points, get the wins and then the table takes care of itself.

“I’m not looking at it any other way.

“We’re looking upwards, not downwards. That’s my mentality and the whole squad’s mentality.

“If we put a few wins together you never know where we could end up.”

Rovers also host AFC Wimbledon on Monday - the first of seven games in April.

“After the Gillingham game [on April 7] we’ve got that one week and then we go Saturday Tuesday for a few weeks,” said Houghton.

“So this weekend could be a good trial to get back into it after a few weeks off.

“We’ll get our recovery in and then move onto AFC Wimbledon on Monday which will be another tough game.

“We’ve got a lot of tough games coming up but it’s important we get the points on board and play like we can.”

Houghton recently returned to the starting line-up in an unfamiliar role on the right side of the midfield diamond.

He agrees that playing alongside anchorman Luke McCullough makes Rovers a sturdier proposition - and also reflects the jump from League Two to One.

“I think so,” he said. “It was always going to be difficult coming up. For any club coming up the aim, first and foremost, is to consolidate in the league.

“Obviously we have aspirations that we want to be as high as possible.

“But I think having me and Luke in there it does give us a bit more of a defensive brain to the midfield - and then you’ve got Tommy [Rowe] playing on the left and Copps in the number ten role who are a bit more attacking.

“But that’s also something I want to add to my game as well. Playing on the right of a diamond I need to get forward more and get in the box.

“I do agree that I’ve got that defensive brain a bit more than some players that might play there so it probably does make us a bit more solid.”