By Nathan Bees
This week's blog is going to be short but sweet for a couple of reasons.Firstly, I am in the middle of deadlines at Uni and need to concentrate on finishing essays and TV features, and secondly I do not think my nerves can handle going through the permutations again!
We all know how much is riding on the next two games and it is frustrating that even if we were to win both there are no guarantees we will finish top. As has been said numerous times over the last few weeks, it is Barnet's to lose and we need one of Kidderminster Harriers or Gateshead to do us a favour and give us a chance of automatic promotion.
Can it happen? Of course. Will it? I am not so sure.
I base this opinion on the fact Barnet have shown no signs of slipping up recently. Having swept aside FC Halifax Town with ease last weekend, they will be confident of winning their last two fixtures with similar style.
Pressure can do unusual things and that should give us hope, but I have become so accustomed to disappointment as a Rovers supporter that I am not allowing myself to believe it will happen!
To be honest, it is probably a good thing not to get carried away. We need to focus on doing our job and whatever happens afterwards happens. If we are destined for the league title then that is great, but if we need to tackle the play-offs then we still have a great chance of reclaiming a place in the Football League next season.
As Darrell Clarke has reiterated for months, we need to take each game one at a time.
The pleasing aspect heading into tomorrow's trip to Dover Athletic is that we should be fully fit and ready to go. We did not need to exert too much energy to edge past Southport last weekend and considering we could step it up another two or three gears, we should head to the Crabble full of confidence.
Bar the long-term injury absentees, everyone looks as though they will be available for selection and that will be a major positive for Clarke as he carefully plots Dover's downfall. Jermaine Easter's return to fitness is a big boost and it means we have a pool of striking talent that should have goals in abundance.
Clarke could justifiably start any two of our forwards given their performances over recent weeks and at this stage of the season that is exactly the type of selection headache he will want to have. Ellis Harrison appears undroppable given his goalscoring form and he has proven he can partner both Nathan Blissett and Matty Taylor to good effect, so it will be interesting to see how we line up tomorrow afternoon.
It remains to be seen if the Gas invasion of Dover will sell out as was anticipated earlier in the week, but whatever the final number is I am sure the atmosphere will be as enjoyable as the one that was created at Aggborough on Easter Monday. Gasheads are in good spirits and there is no better feeling than being stood among hundreds/thousands of other supporters and cheering on the team. Hopefully it can make a difference once again.
Dover are now out of play-off contention themselves and have nothing tangible to play for any more, which is a bonus for us, although we cannot afford to underestimate them. They robbed a point from us earlier in the season with a sickeningly late equaliser after a set-piece, so we know they score goals if they are given half a chance.
Chris Kinnear has done a tremendous job getting his side performing in the top half of the table on limited resources, and he will have his players fired up and ready to shoot us down.
Let's show them the respect they deserve without becoming pre-occupied with their strengths, though. If we concentrate on what we do well then we should have more than enough to win the game and. who knows what could happen after that?
The season is not over if things do not go our way tomorrow Gasheads, so stay positive and embrace everything that comes our way. It is going to be an exciting but unbearable couple of weeks I think!
Come on Rovers, come on you blues!