by Adam Stubbings

Another game passes without victory and a relegation scrap now seems on the cards as Rovers look to finally end this miserable run at home to Shrewsbury on Saturday.

It was a meek 2-0 defeat at the hands of Swindon which dealt Rovers their latest blow, making it eight games on the trot without victory and a slide to 18th place, above our visitors only on goal difference and an alarming two points clear of the bottom four. Three points from eight games is simply not good enough at any stage of the season and if things can't be turned around very soon, it could be curtains for our League One status.

Shrewsbury by contrast are four games unbeaten in the league, Micky Mellon's side buoyed by a fantastic run in the F.A. Cup that recently ended at the hands of giants Manchester United. Three of those four games have been against sides in the relegation zone, but a 2-0 win over Rochdale in midweek will have boosted the Shropshire side heading into this clash at the Keepmoat.

Darren Ferguson made his debut as Rovers manager in the first meeting with Shrewsbury this season, securing a 2-1 win at Greenhous Meadow thanks to a late goal from Keshi Anderson. That was the start of a revival of fortunes for Rovers, and how dearly they need another one now as the last dozen games of the season loom with increasing significance.

We are unbeaten in four meetings with the Shrews, winning the lot but this is only the fourth meeting of the century after the pair sailed by one another in 2004 as Rovers won promotion from the Conference and were replaced by Shrewsbury. Those four wins have all been by a single goal, doing the double in our 2012/13 title-winning campaign and even beating them 1-0 at Belle Vue the year we dropped out of the league in drastic circumstances.

Things may not be anywhere near as bad as they were back then but there is no doubt that this is a massive game for both teams and one that could set the tone for the rest of the season. Two sides fighting hard to avoid the drop who need to demonstrate passion and grit to get themselves out of trouble.

Richard Chaplow, who scored against Millwall last Saturday, misses the game through suspension, and Paul Keegan may not be fit enough to return to the midfield just yet. James Coppinger is also facing a further couple of weeks out injured, meaning a debut beckons for Aston Villa loanee Riccardo Calder, signed until the end of the season on Thursday.