Points make prizes for Rovers boss
Rovers manager Darren Ferguson wants his side to maintain the high standards that have seen them win their past three Sky Bet League Two games.
Victories over Exeter City, Hartlepool United and Leyton Orient have strengthened Rovers’ position in the top three and means victory over Stevenage on Saturday – the only game in the division this weekend – would be enough to claim top spot in the table.
But Ferguson is more bothered about points totals, and the gap to fourth place, than sitting top of the table when we are still only in the opening days of December.
He said: “Psychologically it is probably more important that, if we win on Saturday, we would have an eight-point gap to fourth. If we go top it always looks nice, but that’s quite a big gap.
“But we’re fully aware it can be turned round quickly, as we’ve seen with Plymouth who were 11 ahead of us a couple of weeks ago.
“So I know it might sound a bit boring, but that is the message I am giving the players. If they get to the levels they can they will enjoy it and will get us wins, but we have to be consistent in reaching that level.”
Ferguson set his side a target of winning every game in November – something they achieved – but he is not doing the same for December.
He said: “I don’t set targets every month, that just came after the Wycombe game and us looking at the points total. We had to win all our league games to get to where we want to be, and we have done that.
“This month, in the short-term, I’m looking for us to maintain our standards and see if we can get even better – that is the only thing I require.
“Our away form has to improve, we know that. But the most important thing, home or away, is we have to be consistent in the standards we set.”
And Ferguson knows Rovers will have to be at their best to return from Stevenage with anything on Saturday.
He added: “They are a really hard-working, fit and well organised team. They did very well last week against Portsmouth and have some good players in form. They seem well drilled and organised, they’ve got a bit of energy about them.”