Wellens salutes opposite number Fergie

Doncaster Rovers boss Darren Ferguson

Athletic boss Richie Wellens has plenty of respect for tomorrow's opposite number in the dugout at Boundary Park - Doncaster Rovers' Darren Ferguson.

Athletic are desperate for a win in their penultimate Sky Bet League One fixture of the season, and though Rovers currently sit with relatively little to play for in mid-table, Wellens knows Ferguson - son of Manchester United legend Sir Alex - will have his team well prepared to come and do battle.

Athletic are currently in the relegation zone on goal difference. Tomorrow they will take on a Rovers side who have lost their last two games - both 1-0 home defeats at the hands of Oxford and Blackburn repsectively.

Former Doncaster midfielder Wellens said: “I’ve played for Darren.

"For me, he’s a fantastic coach, and very intense on the training ground.

“There’s a lot of similarities to his dad. He has been successful and won promotions as a manager.

“The first season I was at Doncaster we were relegated, but they stuck with him and we went straight back up.

“I think he would have liked to have been a bit higher this season as I believe Doncaster are a Championship club, but it’s been a season of consolidation for Darren and I’m sure he’ll be looking to build for next season.”

Meanwhile, Athletic defender Rob Hunt has urged his team-mates to step it up and really go for what would be a priceless win tomorrow.

Former Brighton man Hunt (22) said: "Everyone on the pitch needs to step up and be a leader. 

“I think we have got the quality at the back to stick together and throughout the team to keep the clean sheet and get the win. 

“We just have to get on with the situation. The boys have come in and done really well. 

“George Edmundson and Tom Hamer have been fantastic recently and Brian Wilson has done well when he’s come in, but we just have to stick together as a team and win.

“We are the ones that got ourselves in this situation so we need to dig ourselves out.

"We have done well against teams but we have just not had that little bit of luck.”