Darby's rallying call ahead of Cirencester clash

9:31am Wednesday 9th April 2008

ROVERS caretaker boss Duane Darby has issued a rallying call to the club's supporters ahead of Saturday's crunch clash at Cirencester.

Darby believes the fans can play a huge part in his side's bid to stay in the British Gas Business Premier Division.

For the second Saturday running, Rovers will face an already relegated side.

But after the disappointing 1-0 defeat at Cheshunt followed by last night's 0-0 draw with Bashley, time is running out for the Greens, who go into the game occupying the final relegation spot.

Darby, however, insists their fate is still in their own hands.

He said: "From the fans point of view now, we need them more than ever.

"They have got to get behind us and give us the support like they did tonight (Tuesday).

"They were trying to pull that ball into the back of the net for us, and that is what we need now starting at Cirencester on Saturday.

"The fans can play a major part in it, and I want to put a rally out to them all - come and get behind us.

"They are massive, massive games left for us to stay in this league, and I am confident we will stay in this league.

"There's been a hell of a lot of negativity flying about the place.

"But after Saturday you expect that.

"Nobody was more disappointed than me after Saturday.

"I was fuming, I was sick and I had to go home a really lift myself up.

"We are on 42 points and like I said before, 50 will definitely keep you up.

"48 might keep you up, to be honest.

"So of course it is in our own hands, we have got nine points to play for, and we have to go to Cirencester who are another team that are already relegated, in my eyes."

Darby faced criticism from some sections of the support for throwing five of his six transfer deadline captures straight into the team for the games against Cheshunt and Bashley.

There were question marks as to whether the new players would be able to gel quick enough at such a crucial point in the season.

But the Greens boss believes that after last night's encouraging display, his decision was justified.

He added: "Fans will have their opinions, but if things carried on going the way they were going we were going to struggle.

"Things had to be freshened up, people have had to come in and it just shows by tonight (Tuesday) they gelled and overall I think we played well."

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