Doncaster Rovers v Notts County: Ferguson puts points before performances in promotion hunt

Ferguson confesses he would like to see his Rovers side be more swashbuckling than they have been of late and return to the breathless attacking play of earlier in the campaign.

But with promotion to League One within touching distance and a championship trophy to fight over, he says the main focus must be on picking up points, starting tonight against Notts County.

“Being optimistic, I would want us to be a bit more cavalier, where we have been this season and done very well,” Ferguson said.

“But the main aim is to get through this week and get as many points as we can.

“I feel the main thing now is we’ve got to get the job done.

“If we’re as consistent as we have been over the last few games with clean sheets it’s a great foundation for us to build on.

“We’ve had clean sheets for two and three quarter games and I think if the boy hadn’t scored from 40 yards at Cambridge it would have been three.

“We’re always going to create chances. No one is going to argue that we don’t entertain and score goals.

“But the main thing now is to concentrate on getting the wins.”

Visitors Notts County arrive at the Keepmoat having lost just once in their last seven matches, winning four to help move them clear of relegation danger.

Ferguson believes they are a mirror image of boss Kevin Nolan, the former West Ham United and Newcastle United midfielder.

And he expects to come up against a more confident team than the one Rovers beat on Boxing Day.

He said: “The difference between us playing them then and now is that they’ve got a lot more belief and confidence.

“They were struggling at that time but that mentality and confidence is an important thing in football.

“With that you’d expect them to come and have a go.

“And one thing they will do is keep going until the end.

“Looking at the manager and the way he was as a player, they’re a team that’s going to have a right go.”