6:00am Monday 1st April 2013
By Andy Warren
SWINDON boss Kevin MacDonald has insisted his side can still earn automatic promotion this season even if they suffer defeat away at Doncaster today.
Town go into the lunchtime clash with the league leaders fourth in League One, two points off the automatic promotion places following their 1-1 draw with Oldham on Friday.
MacDonald is confident of victory at the Keepmoat Stadium today, but even if his side do suffer defeat, the Town boss wouldn’t rule out going up to the Championship without the aid of the play-offs.
“It would be difficult, but we think we could have won all the games we have played so far,” he said.
“We haven’t, that’s a fact, but there’s no reason we can’t go and win all our last five.
“It will be a major a disappointment, but it won’t be the biggest blow in the world.
“I have to try and keep the players calm as well as excited, because this is a big thing for them “I was lucky enough to have won promotion and to have won trophies in my career, and a lot of these players have done that before, but it’s now a case of them staying focussed and calm at the right time.”
MacDonald believes his side are a match for anyone in the division, but is wary of a Rovers side looking to bounce back from Friday’s 1-0 defeat at Coventry.
“If we can get as strong a side out as possible then we are a match for anybody, which we have seen throughout the season, and we would like to think we are going to give Doncaster a tough game,” he said.
“I’m sure Bryan Flynn will have his side up and running, especially after they lost against Coventry, but we have to focus on what we do best ourselves, and if we do that we are a match for any team in the division.”
Nathan Thompson, Tommy Miller and Jay McEveley are doubts for the trip to Yorkshire due to injury.
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