300 Up For Doncaster Rovers’ James Coppinger

DONCASTER star James Coppinger will make his 300th start for the club against Yeovil on Saturday, hoping to stay top of a relegation ‘mini-league’.

Though separated by eight points, the rock bottom Glovers have a game in hand on Rovers, whilst fellow-strugglers Millwall, Barnsley and Charlton are all within striking distance of fifth-bottom Donny.

And Coppinger, who joined Rovers in 2004, says victory at Huish Park would give his side a huge boost.

“For both of us, this game is important,” he said. “You’re playing in a mini-league with five or six teams and you can’t afford to lose them.

“What counts at this stage of the season is mental toughness – you need the resilience to cope with disappointment.

“For clubs like Doncaster and Yeovil, playing in the Championship, you have to accept that you’ll lose at least as many as you win, so it’s about learning not to dwell on defeat. Whoever does that best will have a great chance.”