This weekend sees the regular League One season come to a close and hopefully it will be the day the curtain comes down for Rovers too.
Should Rovers avoid defeat on Saturday then Championship football is certain to return to the Keepmoat Stadium in August 2013.
Our hosts Brentford will be looking to use their home advantage in search of the three points they need to pip us to second spot but they will have to overcome the challenge from the team with the most away wins in the Football League this season. In fact Rovers have the enviable record of tasting victory on the road more than any other club in the country as things stand.
Rovers have a good recent record against the Bees and a repeat of the last trip to Griffin Park would be more than welcome.
Right from the off it was the visiting side who were looking to take the game to Brentford, with the home side looking decidedly shaky in defence and suffering from having no manager at the helm; it was clear within minutes that there would be only one winner.
Without Clark Masters in the Brentford goal, Rovers would have raced into a three goal lead. Paul Green, Gareth Roberts and Mark McCammon were all denied by the Bee’s ‘keeper in the opening exchanges before they were to be stung by a former player of their own.
Jason Price made a perfect run to break through the home defence before evading the frame of the advancing goalkeeper and slotting home with just over 20 minutes on the stadium clock. Despite the dominance of Rovers, Brentford somehow managed to go into the break just one goal behind as they dug in admirably and almost forced a way back into the game when Simon Cox was denied when his goalbound effort was hacked off the line.
After the break however it didn’t take long for Rovers to assert themselves, as Brian Stock swung over a free kick from out wide and with the ball bobbling around in the danger zone, Jonathan Forte prodded the ball through a sea of legs and into the net.
Just over ten minutes later the game was all but over for the Bees as James O Connor smashed home in fine style after making a typically lung busting run from full back. With the home side still licking their wounds Paul Heffernan added a little polish on the performance as he netted in predatory fashion from close range with just under 20 minutes to go.
A fine victory which left Sean O Driscoll’s men sitting just four points outside the playoff spots going into the busy Christmas period and unbeaten in eight games.