Matt Taylor is targeting a third successive league victory when Bristol Rovers welcome Derby County to the Mem.
The Gas enjoyed a hard-fought 1-0 win on the road against Leyton Orient last weekend, a result which followed a 2-1 win at home to Carlisle United.
A tough test awaits Rovers on Saturday when the promotion-chasing Rams travel to the south west, and manager Taylor knows the scale of the challenge awaiting his side if they are to collect another valuable three points.
Taylor is confident though, having seen multiple facets to his Rovers’ team in victory at Orient.
The manager spoke about his delight in that performance, and the clean-sheet, as well as his expectations of this weekend’s opponents and finding an identity for his team during his pre-match interview…
A positive squad
We have a buoyant mood in the squad on the back of the victory at Leyton Orient, and certainly the manner of it helped. We showed a different side of ourselves in the second half, one we’ve been striving to achieve. The boys have been bright and the warmer weather, and that feeling of Spring, has helped to liven them up a bit too.
We’re going into a three-game week with a lot of points to play for and a lot of challenges, but we start with a fantastic game on Saturday against Derby County.
Orient observations
We’ve been praying for a clean-sheet. The importance of clean-sheets are there for all to see, but the first goal is also so important at this level. Not being behind and having to chance a game is a big thing.
I thought, in the first-half at Leyton Orient, we were as good as we’ve been on the road for a long time. There were lots of pleasing factors.
There is so much to work on still but what’s really good is, after winning two games of football, we’ve not changed our mindset towards training. I like the way the intent of the team has shifted a little bit.
Relishing the Rams
Derby are the stand-out team in the league. They’ve got the best players, the biggest club, and I imagine it will be a full house this weekend. They will come well supported, and we’ll be well supported as well.
I hope it’s a good game of football; one which I hope the players and fans alike can really get their teeth into. Derby at home should be one to really look forward to. This fanbase has said all along that we’re a team that raises our game against the bigger teams, and we’re going to need to do that this weekend.
Pride in identity
We’re never going to say that there’s nothing to play for. There is so much to play for. The away win, at Leyton Orient, it is different because the fans have traveled and enjoyed the day out. When you get the result like that, certainly with the circumstances of the second-half, it just means a little bit more.
I think the supporters are starting to relate to the team a little bit more too. We’re moving in the right direction in terms of getting an identity for the Football Club, and hopefully that will be an identity the fans can be part of and be proud of.