by Paul Williams

We haven’t managed a goal against Millwall in four of our last five meetings – sound familiar?

If Darren Ferguson wasn’t aware of the deep-seated problems with organization, application and team morale before Saturday’s horror show at Peterborough – he will be now.

Unfortunately, there is unlikely to be any short-term fixes. The defence will once again pick itself unless there are any last-minute arrivals. As well as Gary Mackenzie and Rob Jones, Keshi Anderson will probably also miss the trip to the New Den.

The Lions won at Bramall Lane on Saturday and will be threatening the top six with another three points tonight. We can only dream of a win to lift us out of the bottom four – the only current consolation is that Barnsley are down there with us.

If there is any glimmer of hope it’s the fact that Millwall have already lost four times at home this season, conceding an average of two goals a game. That’s identical to our defensive record on the road (the worst in League 1) so can we expect a goal-fest? Right now, a boring 0-0 draw would sound good.

Have you already got your 2015/16 Doncaster Rovers season ticket? If so, then you have the opportunity to earn money back from Rovers by finding new season ticket holders.

For the 3rd year running the club are running the "Be a club scout" scheme, one of the original success stories of the VSC's #IRWT programme.

Simply get a friend to download the application form, complete and include your details at the bottom under "Scout Details" and return to the club. Once the new season ticket holder has paid for their season ticket in full, the scout will be entitled to 10% of the season ticket value (up to £27).

by Paul Williams

I must admit I’ve never set foot in Peterborough. It was always the stop between Stevenage and Grantham on the East Coast line as far as I was concerned so my view of the town has been limited to one from a train window. But I understand the away end of football ground is of a type than can generate a bit of atmosphere so I’m sure travelling fans will be getting behind the lads this weekend.

Publicly, Darren Ferguson has described this Saturday’s fixture at Peterborough as ‘just another game’. However, privately, the new Rovers manager would probably like nothing better than to put one over the club that sacked him earlier this year. Ferguson will know most of the Peterborough players – there hasn’t been that big a turnaround of playing staff at London Road over the last nine months – so should have some idea of their strengths and weaknesses.

Unfortunately, Keshi Anderson has been limping since scoring the winner at Shrewsbury and our joint top scorer may be a doubt for this one. That would probably necessitate a slight tweak to the formation. Luke McCullough is the obvious replacement for the injured Gary Mackenzie but Ferguson has said he will look at the loan market next week to see if he can boost numbers in the defence, which is looking more than a little threadbare.

While we were beating Shrewsbury on Tuesday, Posh were losing at home to Wigan and one of their goalscorers, Erhun Oztumer, is a doubt to face Rovers. They are also without key midfielder Marcus Maddision and several others who would have been in the matchday squad – dare we dream of back-to-back wins?

by Paul Williams

So, are we all ready for the Darren Ferguson revolution to re-ignite our season? The new manager syndrome seems to boost every other club that swaps leaders mid-stream so hopefully we’ll start to see the Fergie factor kick in sooner rather than later, preferably starting against the Shrews at the New Meadow this evening.

Rovers deserved at least a point against Bradford on Saturday but elbows, hands and a referee who saw things others didn’t and missed what everyone else appeared to see conspired against them. That and our season-long inability to actually put the ball in the net. Whether three days is sufficient time to persuade the forwards and midfield that you have to buy a ticket to win the lottery is anybody’s guess but we should at least play on the front foot more often under the new manager.

Keshi Anderson has extended his loan until January and that’s good news as the Crystal Palace youngster has been a rare success story in his first month at the club. We just need some of his enthusiasm to rub off on others.

The new manager has said that everyone has started with a clean slate so there could be changes at the New Meadow as Rovers look to add to their solitary point on the road so far. Has Harry Forrester done enough to earn a recall – will Fergie try to inject some pace through Nathan Tyson and Cameron Stewart – are we grasping at straws?

Micky Mellon’s Shrewsbury (Shrews, Mellons and Meadows – will we need to take the wellies?) are inconsistent but as capable as anyone in this league on their day but these are the games from which we need be taking points if we are to get out of the hole into which we’ve dug ourselves.

by Paul Williams

There’s been a mainly positive reaction to the appointment of Darren Ferguson as the new Doncaster Rovers manager on social media and Viking Chat. You certainly can’t argue with his win ratio or his record at Peterborough, where he achieved promotion three times to the Championship playing mainly attacking football.

He knows he will be allowed every opportunity at a stable club to carry out the board’s aims and we, as supporters, need to give the Scot time to get the players on his wavelength and start turning things around. Fergie Jr won’t take charge of team matters until Monday, however, and it will be Rob Jones who picks the teams and decides the tactics against Bradford City at the Keepmoat this Saturday.

Overall fortunes haven’t taken a massive upturn under The Corporal’s leadership but the last two home matches have provided more entertainment than under the previous managerial incumbent.

The players have had a week to get over that dismal JPT defeat at York and are still defending an unbeaten record. They also have a score settle with the Bantams for a  wretched 3-0 defeat at the Keepmoat last season which more or less ended all hopes of the play-off.

City have had a big turnaround in staff over the summer but, like us, have only shone intermittently, though did win at Rochdale on the same day we beat Barnsley when loanees Lee Evans and Devante Cole were on the score-sheet.

Luke McCullough has returned from international duty and should be available to renew his partnership with Andy Butler at the heart of the Rovers defence while Curtis Main and Harry Forrester scored for then U21s in midweek and could also feature.

Let’s hope for a strong performance to impress the new boss in the stands and three points.