Centre back spoke to www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk ahead of Spireites clash.
Having earned promotion three times during his career from the third tier of English football, it’s fair to say that giant defender Jamie McCombe knows what it takes to compete at the right end of the League One table.Following Tuesday’s draw against Crawley, the 31 year old rebuffed suggestions that Rovers weren’t capable of making it a second promotion in three years.
“Without wanting to put too much pressure on, you go in to every season hoping you can get promoted. For me, not wanting to pile that pressure on or make expectation, the minimum has to be sixth,” he said.
“You’ve got to have aspirations to do that. We’ve had some difficulties off the pitch and while we don’t have a big budget in this league – fair play rules and all – I think we’ve got a good squad and it’s just clicking it all together.
“We’re straight in to the next two games and they're the big games which we need points from.”
McCombe has yet to concede a goal this season, in games that he has started and says he is looking forward to establishing himself in the team on a long term basis.
“I’ve played quite a lot of games at this level and every team I’ve played for I’ve got promoted. I know the level, I know what I’m doing and I just struggled a bit with injury. My goal is to establish myself in the team and the next goal is promotion,” he said.
“After the setback of last season, we haven’t shown that and it’s all been a bit doom and gloom which is strange because we’ve gone to Colchester and played them off the park and battered Watford.
“After conceding a few sloppy goals at Bristol, that might have changed people’s perceptions but the manager’s not changed his philosophy but we need to put it right out there as soon as possible so that the fans are back with us.”
Tickets for the Chesterfield game are available HERE.