A '˜Super Six' can take Doncaster Rovers to the verge of promotion

Now is the time for Doncaster Rovers to really put their foot down again in the race for promotion.
Andy Williams scored in the opening day defeat at Accrington - but will he start on Saturday?Andy Williams scored in the opening day defeat at Accrington - but will he start on Saturday?
Andy Williams scored in the opening day defeat at Accrington - but will he start on Saturday?

Because a ‘Super Six’ from Rovers can take them to within touching distance of the big prize.

Starting with the visit of Accrington Stanley to the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday, the next six games are all against teams in the wrong half of League Two.

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Stanley are the only side of those six to have beaten Rovers this season. Next up it’s Cambridge United, Crawley Town, Cheltenham Town, Notts County and Leyton Orient.

If Darren Ferguson’s men can repeat - or better - the 13 points they have already bagged against those six opponents it would leave them on the brink of promotion.

And it might just avoid a nervy finish too - with some potentially trickier games further down the road against the likes of Plymouth Argyle, Grimsby Town, Exeter City and Wycombe Wanderers.

Ferguson might downplay it but he has already targeted chunks of games this season.

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He earmarked November as a key month after the setback at Blackpool and his team duly won four on the bounce.

And they really moved through the gears in January, winning all five games, fuelled in part by the confidence gained by putting Portsmouth in their place.

Rovers have not yet won a game this month but they do not look like a side about to self-destruct. They have shown good character in the draws against Morecambe, Newport and Luton.

But with memories of last season’s horrendous collapse still fresh in the memory, you could sense a certain degree of anxiety in the stands last weekend as the run without a win was extended to four games.

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A victory therefore really is essential on Saturday against an Accrington side who have the third worst away record in League Two - to not only nip that sequence in the bud but also set Rovers up for a run of games in March that could provide their red carpet to League One.

KEY BATTLE

Not so much battle - but key for Rovers will be finding someone to fill the big shoes left by Jordan Houghton’s injury and also hit the ground running. Harry Middleton, Mathieu Baudry, Niall Mason or Paul Keegan will get the nod.

MEMORY MATCH

Rovers 1 Accrington 2 (Aug 10, 2010)

The last time these two sides met in Doncaster met saw Rovers, then of the Championship, dumped out of the Carling Cup in the first round by League Two Stanley.

Josh Payne put the hosts ahead but Accrington won the tie after extra time.

FORM GUIDE

Rovers: WWDDLD

Accrington: DLWLDW

MATCH ODDS

Rovers 7/10 Accrington 4/1 Draw 13/5