Doncaster Rovers: Tyson goal '˜could be a season-changer'

It may have been a late consolation in a fourth straight defeat but Nathan Tyson's strike against Bradford City last weekend could be the most important goal of Doncaster Rovers' season.
Nathan Tyson scored a late consolation in the defeat to Bradford City last weekendNathan Tyson scored a late consolation in the defeat to Bradford City last weekend
Nathan Tyson scored a late consolation in the defeat to Bradford City last weekend

That is the verdict of boss Darren Ferguson who is confident Tyson’s late strike will be a catalyst for Rovers’ survival push over the remaining ten games, starting on Saturday against Peterborough United.

Tyson’s effort was only Rovers’ second goal in seven matches with their lack of goals and opportunities playing a major role in their slump towards the League One drop zone.

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Ferguson is hoping the goal will provide the spark to ignite them once again.

“It could have been the biggest goal of the season,” Ferguson told The Star. “It’d have been nice if we’d got another one and nicked a draw.

“But especially with a striker scoring it, that’s important as well.”

The Bradford trip saw Ferguson recall striker Andy Williams after naming him on the bench for the two previous matches.

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And the Rovers boss felt Williams benefitted from his time out of the starting XI.

He said: “I do believe that Andy was better last week. He had one or two opportunities.

“He is definitely a player who you think if he gets one goal he’d go on a run and get five or six.

“But they need to do it quickly, that is clear.”

Such is the severity of Rovers’ situation that there was very little talk of their weekend opponents Peterborough, a club which Ferguson managed for almost seven years over two spells.

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Posh have endured their own struggles of late, picking up one point from their last seven games.

Ferguson said: “It sometimes happens in this league where teams who have gone on really good runs go on really bad ones.

“It can take hold of you quite quickly as we’ve seen ourselves.

“Peterborough is a club I know really well, I had a great time there.

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“It’s a good club with a really good chairman who I remain good friends with.

“I’ll see some faces I know really well but obviously it’s a big game for both clubs in the sense we both need to pick up points.”

Peterborough sit eight points clear of the bottom four as they head to the Keepmoat.

Rovers will welcome back James Coppinger from his ankle injury while Craig Alcock has recovered from a calf issue.