David Syers is looking to avenge the defeat to Preston earlier in the season with a win at Deepdale on Saturday.
The midfielder recalled the game and said: “We were probably outfought in that game and beaten to second balls - That is not Doncaster Rovers
“The reason why we’ve been doing well is because we’ve been outfighting teams, we’ve been winning second balls, we’ve been doing all the dirty stuff really well. I think because of the manner in which we lost is why it’s important to go there and show them that we can beat them with that style of play”
Preston are regarded as a big, physical team in League One but Syers believes Rovers are up to the task.
“You’d have to put us up there as well, I think most people that play against us know they’ve been in a game and I think we owe them something after the disappointing performance against them at our place.
“We’ve got to go there like we did at Oldham and grind out a win.
“It’s been one of those all season where we’ve taken a knock and not performed and lost a game - The way we’ve come back and reacted has been the reason why we’re doing so well. We don’t let it get us down and turn into 3 or 4 defeats, we turn it around and come back with a good run and we want to keep this going now.”
Striker Iain Hume misses the clash at Deepdale due to the terms of his loan deal from the Lilywhites and although he’ll be missed, Syers was quick to praise the strength of the squad as a whole.
“It’s disappointing but we’ve got him for every other game.
“It’s up to the other lads like Paynts and Browny to come in and show what they can do and pick up the slack.
“That’s the good thing about the squad now, it is developing into a squad as opposed to the start of the season where we were a bit thin on numbers so now we have the numbers to cope with that we should get three points, that’s our aim.”
It has been a tough few weeks for the former Bradford City midfielder as an injury picked up in the FA Cup tie at Oldham left him out of action for a number of games.
Despite this he managed to get himself back into the squad for the Boxing Day game, again at Oldham and grab the winner off the bench in added time.
“It’s disappointing, the timing of the injury because I think I’d been knocking on the door and I’d got the start again, it was disappointing to get the injury and miss a couple of league games but I’m back and whether I’m sub or I’m starting, I’ll be ready and hoping to get some more goals”
Going into the Preston game, and beyond, David believes Rovers can only improve more as the season goes on and that they are now a far better team than at the start of the season.
“Without a doubt we’ve been improving on and on through the season which is why we’ve gone on this league run now, and apart from the Coventry game which was a set back, we’re coming on from that. I think we’ll keep improving as long as the season keeps going. The team will keep going from strength to strength.”