DONCASTER Rovers assistant manager Richard O'Kelly says the club's supporters can play a vital role in helping to secure the team a place in the League One promotion play-off final at Wembley.
"We want to create an atmosphere at the Keepmoat Stadium in Friday's semi-final second leg against Southend that will give us the edge," said O'Kelly.
"Everyone talks about the crowd being like a 12th man and we know that if the Doncaster supporters get behind the team it has a massive effect on the players.
"The home game against Nottingham Forest was a classic example of the crowd making a hell of a difference to the team's performance. So if the fans can turn up in their numbers and support us in a positve manner it can only be good for us."
Having held the in-form Shrimpers, who had lost just once in their previous 15 games, to a goalless draw at Roots Hall on Friday, Rovers will start favourites in the return leg.
Both manager Sean O'Driscoll and O'Kelly are at pains to stress that that the job is only half done and both are keen to keep a lid on the level of expectation among both players and supporters in the build up to Friday's game.
But O'Kelly says he was pleased with the showing at Roots Hall. "I thought that our build up in the middle of the pitch was good in the first half but we didn't really get hold of the game in the final third. I thought we were a lot better in that area in the second half.
"When Jason Price plays like he did in the second half, he causes the opposition problems. He has good movement and is an intelligent footballer and gets himself into good areas and that has an effect on the team.
"I thought Paul Heffernan also did well and caused problems before he was sent off."
O'Kelly was also impressed by the Rovers back-four. "I thought youngsters Matt Mills and Sam Hird)were excellent playing against two lively front men. I thought the two full-backs also did well and we kept our shape," he said.
"For a 0-0 draw the quality of the football by both sides was of the highest order and if both teams play the same way on Friday it should be a treat for everybody."
Leeds entertain Carlisle at Elland Road tonight in the first leg of the other League One semi-final.
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