Momentum needs to change quickly for Doncaster Rovers, says Paul Keegan

Rovers are in freefall and saw their winless streak extend to 10 League One games in a poor 2-0 loss at the Iron to follow on from other recenty derby defeats to Barnsley and Sheffield United.

Darren Ferguson’s players have another on Saturday at Bradford City and Keegan says that if relegation-haunted Rovers don’t improve fast, then the consequences could result in a second relegation in three seasons.

On the predicament facing Rovers, who have taken just three points from a possible 30 and have lost seven of their past eight outings, Keegan said: “Scunthorpe were first out on the pitch and battled harder than us. We weren’t good enough and it wasn’t acceptable for us to go out there and lose like that.

“The gaffer (Darren Ferguson) and Strach (Gavin Strachan) did more than enough work for us to know what we are doing, so the responsibility lies with the players.

“Momentum, when you are winning or losing, is a hard habit to break. We are trying everything and everyone at the club is trying to turn this around.

“But at the end of the day, we are the players who go out there out on the pitch and we are the ones who are accountable.

“We have to start putting it right, starting on Saturday or else it will be a very bad season.”

Bradford head into Saturday’s derby dripping with confidence after an impressive 2-0 win over leaders Burton Albion, the Bantams making light of the absence of key men James Hanson and Rory McArdle.

Hailing the case for the defence on a night when City moved level on points with sixth-placed Barnsley, manager Phil Parkinson added: “Burton Albion are a very good team, but we stood strong.

“Importantly, it was a good defensive display right from the front two, who ran themselves into the ground and we didn’t give them a second ball.

“It was important not to get too low and pick ourselves up (after losing to Colchester) last week and I really believe we have done that.

“It was an excellent performance and a good response to a week ago.”