BLACKBURN Rovers Ladies boss Gemma Donnelly wants her side to maintain their focus as they close in on clinching the FA Women’s Premier League Northern Division title.

Rovers need just a point from their home game with Derby tomorrow (2pm) to secure the title, though they could be crowned champions even if they suffer their first defeat of the season.

But having dropped just two points all season, Donnelly says maintaining their unbeaten record over the final five games of the season remains an ambition, knowing that will bring with it league glory.

“Given that we are unbeaten in the league the one target of the girls has been to remain unbeaten for the final few games of the season and that is what we will be focussing on,” she said.

“The girls have this target and we want to ensure that they don’t lose focus.

“What has worked for us so far is hitting these smaller targets and that will help us reach our overall objective which was winning the league.

“Now we are almost there, we don’t want to let it slip.

“We have to remain focussed first and foremost.

“We have not spoken about winning the league too much throughout the course of the season.

“We have only just really started talking about it this last month when it’s become a possible reality and knowing that we can achieve it.”

Rovers have won 13 games on the bounce to create an almost unassailable nine point gap at the top of the table.

They have averaged three goals a game, and conceded just 13 all season, but Donnelly says no-one should believe the campaign has been a walk in the park.

There have also been disappointments along the way, not least the FA Cup third round defeat to Tottenham, having conceded in the last minute to lose 2-1, as well as a league cup semi-final defeat to Charlton after extra-time earlier this month.

“There have been some hard-fought wins and no-one should think that the league is under-strength, the girls have had to work incredibly hard for every result and there has been a real strength of character and mindset,” Donnelly added.

“It’s always good when you’re winning games and come through the tests and the obstacles in the way.

“The girls have shown massive character and stuck at it.

“A couple of results have not gone our way and there was a real determination to be successful in the FA Cup and the league cup.

“But we have come back in to the league games and getting our focus back on getting positive results for the remainder of the season.

“The girls have that strong character about them.

“They have picked each other up and have worked incredibly hard.”

Rovers have five games left of their regular season to clinch the title, as well as a Lancashire Cup final against AFC Fylde to look forward to next month.

The long-term aim remains promotion to the Super League, which would only be secured should Rovers beat the winner of the southern division in a one off play-off game at the Valley on May 28.

Tottenham and Charlton, the two teams to beat Rovers this season, are battling it out for that particular title, along with Cardiff and Coventry, with the top four separated by just three points.

Donnelly, who is in to her third season in charge, added: “I have always been in the background and been through the highs and the lows over a number of years.

“It started with the promotion from the Northern Premier League, the introduction of the Super League which we decided against entering, but just to be a part of this team, the staff, and the players, there is such a good vibe around the club.

“Whether it happens this week, next week, whenever, I will be immensely proud of everyone and their achievements that they have worked so hard for.

“The ultimate reward, and accolade, to get where they area, and the obstacles there have been throughout the season, I will be immensely proud.”

So what has been the most pleasing thing for the boss this season?

“Keeping the same group of players has been a real positive,” she added.

“Past experiences have shown that by Christmas you tend to lose a couple of players who have approaches from Super League clubs, particularly being so close geographically to a number of them.

“The girls have done so well that I was half expecting a few of them to have decisions to make about challenging themselves in the higher leagues because the majority of them are more than capable of doing that.

“But they haven’t, and it’s left us in a position to achieve what we have.”

Tony Mowbray’s Rovers first-team are without a game this weekend due to the international break, and Donnelly is hoping the prospect of winning the league could attract some new supporters along to the Sir Tom Finney Stadium in Bamber Bridge for the 2pm kick off..

She added: “I think everyone within the club knows that this game means we could potentially win the league.

“And we are hoping that the Rovers fans can come down and offer their support and it would be great to see as many people there as possible.”