ALAN QUINN has praised Doncaster Rovers for their impressive rise through the football pyramid to take their place in the Championship.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

ALAN QUINN has praised Doncaster Rovers for their impressive rise through the football pyramid to take their place in the Championship.

Although Rovers are rock bottom, the former Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Quinn insists they have done Yorkshire football proud.

Quinn is hoping to keep his place in the Ipswich Town side after being named in the Championship team of The Week.

Although David Norris took the glory with the match-winner at Blackpool, and all the headlines with the celebration, Quinn impressed observers with his hard-working display.

But with Darren Ambrose signed on loan from Charlton this week Quinn's place on the left side of midfield is in doubt despite being a constant in their past ten league games, which has seen just one defeat and five victories.

He scored in the 2-2 draw at Southampton and was part of the side held by Nottingham Forest who have since gone on to climb off the bottom of the table to be replaced by tomorrow' opponents Doncaster Rovers.

Although Rovers underpin the Championship table Quinn has the utmost respect for Donny, who were recently judged the most successful club in the 16 years since the Premier League inception due to their rise from non-league.

Quinn said: “When I was at Sheffield Wednesday they were in the Conference, now look at them.

“Their chairman John Ryan has done an amazing job.

“They have a lovely stadium and I hear they are playing good football but they are struggling for results.

“Although we will be confident going there because we have been playing well recently, we know it won't be easy for us and we won't be taking anything for granted.”

Rovers were relegated to the Conference in 1998 but returned to the Football League in 2003 after beating Dagenham & Redbridge in a play-off final.

Since then they have won two further promotions, knocked Town out of the League Cup, and under Sean O'Driscoll came up to the Championship last May.

Town have not fared particularly well against sides who have been in the basement with draws against Southampton, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace and Quinn knows the dangers.

He said: “You knew Forest would do everything to get a result against us even though we played quite well that night.

“Then they got a win at Palace and a point off Derby since we played them so they are no mugs and Doncaster are the same. They are capable of pulling away.”

Owen Garvan has been named in the Team of the Week the previous two weeks, with Kevin Lisbie joining him in the team a fortnight ago.

The other 10 players in the Championship Team of the Week:

Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace), Mat Doumbe (Plymouth Argyle), Michael Mancienne (Wolves), Andre Bikey (Reading), Kelly Youga (Charlton Athletic), Michael Kightly (Wolves), James Perch (Nottingham Forest), Lee Johnson (Bristol City), Kevin Doyle (Reading), James Beattie (Sheffield United).

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk