Luke McCormick wants Bristol Rovers to 'kick on' ahead of their away match against Exeter City on Boxing Day.
The Gas are back in action on Thursday and will be looking to build on their 1-1 draw against third-place Wrexham in front of a bumper crowd at The Memorial Stadium, with Promise Omochere netting the all-important equaliser to cancel out Elliot Lee’s first-half opener.
McCormick has been an integral part of Rovers’ team in recent weeks, starting six of the last seven games. The Gas are now three points above the relegation zone heading into their last two matches of 2024, where they face Exeter and Stevenage on the road.
The midfielder stated the importance of the fans in the Pirates' draw with Wrexham and reflected on a difficult period for the Club.
“I thought the fans were really good,” he said. “It’s the best it’s been in a long time because we gave them something to get behind. The first half was a tough half, and in the second half, I thought we played with intensity, I thought we played with energy, I thought we had drive, and they sucked the ball in up the Thatchers’, so it was brilliant.
“I think it’s important to mention it’s a difficult time for everyone involved. The fans, the staff, the players, everyone in the building. It’s a time of unease, but we’re trying to pull together, and I think that’s maybe what we showed in the second half. Our togetherness and our team spirit, and I think the fans felt that and got behind it.
“Hopefully now we can come to a little bit more clarity, and hopefully in the coming days, weeks or whenever it might be, we can have a little bit of structure and stability and hopefully we can kick on.”
McCormick only started one of their first 14 games for the Gas in Sky Bet League One this campaign, but since an impressive performance in Rovers' 1-1 draw with Lincoln City in early November, the 25-year-old has become one of the regular players in the team.
After suffering injuries during the early parts of his time at the Pirates, McCormick insisted that he is feeling good and is loving his time at the Club.
“I’m injury-free, and I feel good,” said McCormick. “It’s a tough time at the moment because of the instability, but I feel great. I love playing in the quarters. I love the Club. I think that’s a given, so every time I get the opportunity to play, hopefully, I can impress and keep my shirt.”
The Christmas period is one of the busiest times of the year in the football calendar, with teams across England playing a host of games towards the end of the year. Rovers’ trip to Exeter is the second match in a busy three-game period, with the Gas travelling to Stevenage just three days later.
McCormick stated that players must stay professional to get a positive result on Boxing Day and said his team will be ready.
“On a serious note, you have to be professional,” he said. “I think it’s almost a battle of professionalism between whoever you’re playing on Boxing Day. It sounds trivial, but do you have those extra potatoes or pigs in blankets or whatnot?
“Do you go for a run? Are you in, or are you training? We’ll find that out tomorrow and then go from there. We’ve got a real professional group, a young group but very professional. So, we’ll be ready come Boxing Day.”
Exeter collected their first win since early November on the weekend, coming from behind to beat Burton Albion 2-1 on the road. The Grecians had displayed plenty of potential this season and were in the playoffs in October, going on a six-game unbeaten run with six clean sheets, but have fallen away recently.
McCormick knows the quality that Exter will bring and knows a couple of familiar faces in the opposition ranks.
“They are a good team,” he said. “A few of their players have been here, Tristan Crama and Ryan Woods, so we know them well. They play a nice brand of football, but it’s more about us. We’re going to go there, be on the front foot and hopefully, we can bring back three points.”
