Doncaster Rovers: Ferguson will stick by wing back system

Darren Ferguson insists the 3-5-2 formation is the right system for Doncaster Rovers and admits he is likely to stick with it for the battle against relegation.
Darren FergusonDarren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson

Ferguson returned to the wing back system for Monday’s damaging defeat to Blackpool after opting for 4-4-2 in the two previous games.

While acknowledging using 4-4-2 could be seen as going back to basics at a time when Rovers are desperate to end their losing run, the Scot says he just does not like the system.

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“For me 3-5-2 is our best formation,” Ferguson told The Star,“It’s the one we’ve won the most games with.

“It’s the correct formation to play against a 4-4-2 where you get three versus two in midfield and at the back.

“It keeps two strikers in the team and you also get width so you get all the things I would want.

“We went to a 4-4-2 for a reason against Peterborough and we did it against Colchester.

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“People might say it was back to basics but I don’t like the formation. I don’t think it suits the team.

“I’ve got to pick a formation to suit the players and I think it did against Blackpool.

“We had width from Mitchell Lund and Riccardo Calder. Tommy Rowe, James Coppinger and Harry Middleton in the middle of the pitch and the two strikers.

“I picked a team tactically because I thought it was the correct way to play against Blackpool.”

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Despite the defeat – which left Rovers four points from safety with seven games remaining – Ferguson was pleased with the players he selected following the horrendous Good Friday performance at Colchester United.

He said: “I picked a team I felt would give a response for everyone.

“They had to show exactly what it meant to them in terms of the situation we’re in.

“It shouldn’t take me to say what I said after Colchester to get a response out of a set of players.

“In terms of performance against Blackpool, it was a game we should have won.”