Donervon's eyes are on the prize

Latics travel to South Yorkshire looking for a sixth win on the bounce, which would extend their unbeaten record to an impressive 21 matches.

Indeed, if results go their way this weekend, Latics would be in a position to clinch promotion back to the Championship as early as next Tuesday, when they travel to long-time leaders Burton.

Daniels, though, is adamant there is only game focusing the players’ minds this week.

“Doncaster is going to be a very tough game, and we have to go there and put in a very solid performance,” he told the Evening Post.

“Every game is a tough game in this league, especially at this stage of the season.

“Whether you’re at the bottom or at the top, you’re fighting for something.

“We’re five wins on the bounce, and we’ve just got to take it one game at a time as we have been doing.

“Hopefully we make it six before we head to Burton on Tuesday, which is going to be another massive game with a lot riding on it.

“But we can’t afford to be worrying about that at the moment.

“All our focus has to be on the weekend, putting in a solid performance and adding another three points to the tally.”

Doncaster have dropped like a stone in recent weeks, and are without a win since January 2.

But they showed in the 0-0 draw at the DW back in August they are capable of providing a problem if given the opportunity.

“That was a tough game for us,” Daniels acknowledged.

“I didn’t actually play in the game, I was on the bench, but they came here and set our their stall.

“Obviously at the start of the season we were a new team still getting used to each other, but they made it hard for us and deserved their point.”

Unlike that occasion, when Latics went in on the back of an opening-day defeat to Coventry, this time Daniels and Co will be boosted by a victory over the Sky Blues last weekend.

“We got the job done against Coventry,” Daniels recognised.

“I thought the team did really well, we handled their threats quite well, and we kept the ball well.

“It was a solid job all round, and we felt we needed to get revenge for the first game of the season.

“They tore us apart that day, and we’ve used that to get stronger and stronger over the course of the season.

“You saw on Saturday just how good a team and how strong a team we are.

“Another clean sheet, another good win, and I feel the team is going from strength to strength at the moment.

“Obviously the run has come at a very good time – it’s 20 unbeaten and five wins on the bounce.

“And when the gaffer does change the team – as he has done all season – it shows the strength in depth we have here.”

On a personal note, Daniels has enjoyed his debut campaign at the DW, where he has played right-back, right wing-back and centre-back with equal comfort – so much so that only David Perkins (44) and Max Power (43) have made more than his 40 appearances.

“I said at the start of the season that I just wanted to get games and improve as an individual and a player,” he added.

“I feel working under this manager and these coaches, and with these players, that I am doing that.

“I’ve played all the way across the backline and I have enjoyed it.

“As long as I’m in the team and I’m putting in consistent performances then I’m doing all right.”