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Rovers stopped the rot against Millwall, but the search for three points continues with a midweek trip to Swindon Town.

Despite failing to secure a winner and once again demonstrating rudimentary defensive failings, there were encouraging signs in the 1-1 draw at the weekend. Rovers improved as the game went on and put a bad start behind them to come on strong and dominate spells of the game when chasing a winner. The performance was a huge improvement on recent defeats to rivals such as Barnsley and Sheffield United, and hopefully a modicum of confidence can be taken from the game ahead of some crucial fixtures as we hit the last dozen or so matches.

Seven games without a win have seen the club mired in the bottom eight with seemingly no way up now – there are seven points between Rovers in 17th and Bury a place higher – but despite sitting just three points clear of relegation Darren Ferguson has cause for optimism. The majority of the first team squad are now fit after a testing period of injuries, and the fixture list opens up a little bit after a string of games against top clubs. More than two-thirds of our victories in League One this season have come against the sides behind, indeed all seven of those teams have tasted defeat at the hands of the Rovers in 2015/16.

Swindon by contrast have been on a good run of late and are up to 12th, registering three straight victories to move up the table. They are not infallible however and will be wary of former talisman Andy Williams returning to haunt them on Tuesday night. Williams netted over 20 goals in a fantastic season for the Robins last year, but was among a group of top players to depart the County Ground last summer.

Fergie needs to address the defensive issues plaguing the team of late, and it is perhaps time to introduce Andy Butler back into the starting line-up after an unconvincing few games for Aaron Taylor-Sinclair and Luke McCullough. Paul Keegan, at fault for the Millwall goal on Saturday, went off injured and may not be fit enough to start but Harry Middleton can ably deputise if this proves the case.
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