By Pete Oliver

Doncaster 1-1 Man City (Doncaster win 3-0 on penalties)

Doncaster Rovers manager Dave Penney insists his team still has everything to play for after recovering from a disappointing start to the season.

Just one win in their first eight games had left the South Yorkshire club among the early strugglers in League One.

But a run of three victories and a draw wrapped around a upset of Manchester City in the League Cup has got Rovers moving again and Penney believes the corner has been turned.

"We didn't have a good start and we identified two or three problems," Penney told BBC Sport.

"For the first time in three years we were in the same division. The buzz from getting promotions and playing at new grounds had gone.

"We had a higher than normal influx of players because we felt one or two had not been good enough and because of the transfer window.

"Those players took time to settle and teams have also shown us a bit more respect.

One minute teams are heading for the bottom three and the next they are going for the play-offs Dave Penney

"They know now that we are a decent side, which can play a bit of a football. Last year we lost just twice at home so now teams are coming here and shutting up shop.

"But nobody had battered us and then we won two derby games against Scunthorpe and Barnsley either side of the Man City match. With the run we've had we feel we are okay now.

"Some teams had a good start and have just dropped back, while we had a poor start and are coming back into it."

Doncaster have climbed into mid-table and while the top two of Swansea and Southend have built up a handy lead, the play-off places are just one win away.

"This league is so tight," Penney added. "One minute teams are heading for the bottom three and the next they are going for the play-offs.

"We just want to keep this run going because if you can get back-to-back wins and then three or four on the trot it can make a real difference."

And Penney believes the chances of that happening will be enhanced once his strikers start to click.

We have tried to add a bit of quality to the squad and as a club we want to keep progressing Dave Penney

Doncaster have managed just 14 goals so far with record signing Paul Heffernan getting just one and Neil Roberts yet to get off the mark.

"We need people to start scoring goals and we haven't found the perfect answer up front," admitted Penney.

"Jonathan Forte has come in and got a few, which has been a big plus, but we just need one of them to get on a run and start scoring regularly."

Standards have been set high in recent seasons with Penney knowing nothing but success since he stepped up from the playing ranks to take over as manager in December 2001.

In his first full season, the 41-year-old led Doncaster up from the Conference and then secured the League Two title at the first time of asking.

Last season the club finished 10th, five points adrift of the play-offs.

Now, with a new ground being built, a return to Championship level for the first time since 1958 is the target.

"After three great seasons we just missed out last year. Some supporters might have expected us to get another promotion, but it's not that easy. There are 23 other teams trying to stop you.

"But we have tried to add a bit of quality to the squad and as a club we want to keep progressing.

"I think we still are on an upward curve and we are looking to finish higher than last season," said Penney.