Connor Taylor insisted Bristol Rovers’ defeat to Bolton Wanderers was ‘massively frustrating’ after the Gas lost 1-0 against the Trotters on Saturday.
The Pirates were looking to end their four-game losing streak in Sky Bet League One with a first victory since beating Steven Schumacher’s men 3-2 in a scintillating fixture at The Memorial Stadium. Still, they fell behind when Aaron Collins headed in Gethin Jones’ cross.
It was a similar story to just four days prior, where Rovers matched league leaders Birmingham City before conceding in the latter stages, with Blues’ Jay Stansfield slotting in the winner from the penalty spot.
Taylor reflected on the defeat to Bolton and believes there was not much to separate the two teams before turning his attention to next Saturday's match against Exeter City.
“There was very little in the game,” he said. “It was fine margins again, the same as Tuesday night against Birmingham. Just that lapse of concentration where we lose the ball in our own half, and we don’t track a runner, and he heads it away for their first chance of the game. It’s a sickener, but nobody is feeling sorry for us. It’s only us that can get us out of the situation.
“Next Saturday is a must-win game. We know that. Today is massively frustrating. They were there for the taking. The same as Tuesday. We can only just move on.”
The game at the Toughsheet Community Stadium was much different to the five-goal thriller at The Mem less than a month ago. Both teams only had one shot each in the first 30 minutes, with neither side able to seriously threaten the opposition goal in the first half.
The flow of the game continued after the break until Collins threatened with a couple of chances before finally finding a way to beat Jed Ward, who had previously stood up to the challenge of the former Rovers forward. Taylor was disappointed after feeling ‘comfortable’ for most of the fixture, with a momentary lapse of concentration proving costly.
“We’ve come off the pitch [at half-time] feeling really comfortable,” said Taylor. “The same as Tuesday. We were very comfortable in the game and felt defensively comfortable. It’s just a moment that kills us, and that’s what happens when you’re down there like the manager has said numerous times. I think when you’re up there, you can play not very well and always back yourself to get a chance like they did today.
“When you’re down there, you’ve got to have everything bang on to get a result, and we were for 99 per cent again, and that lapse of concentration was a goal.”
“Nobody is feeling sorry for us. I would rather play absolutely awful and win a game of football than do OK and lose it. We’ve got to treat every game differently, and next Saturday is a vital game for us. We have to win it.”
Rovers have five games left to retain their League One status. The Gas are three points above Burton Albion, who are just inside the relegation zone, with the Brewers having one game in hand with a better goal difference.
Taylor is one of the longest-serving players at the Pirates and played a vital role in Rovers promotion from League Two in the 2021-22 campaign and emphasised the importance of all the players giving everything until the end of the season.
“This football club means everything to me,” said the defender. “It made my career where I am now. The last thing I want is for this football club to be in League Two again. I said it in there if you're thinking if we go down, you’re just going to go on a highway back to League One. It doesn’t work like that. Relegations follow you around in football.
"I said in there that we have to do everything in our power to make sure that this football club stays in this division because that’s what they deserve over there, the travelling fans and all the fans at The Mem at home games.
“They don’t want to see League Two football, and I said in there that we’ve got to give absolutely everything. Not 99 per cent of the games. We’ve got to give everything for 100 per cent of the games because you get punished for that lapse of concentration. We’ve got to be dialled for every game for the rest of the season, and hopefully, we have enough.”
