Matt Taylor insisted that his Bristol Rovers team are going in the right direction and is looking forward to another match at The Memorial Stadium.
The Gas are playing their fourth successive home match in all competitions and are coming off the back of a 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing Lincoln City, with Shaq Forde’s first-half opener cancelled by Jack Moylan’s strike just past the hour mark.
The Gas have won four of their seven league matches in the third tier at Memorial Stadium this season, keeping three clean sheets.
Taylor spoke about the run of games at home, discussed recent performances and previewed the upcoming game against Crawley.
ANOTHER GAME AT THE MEM
“Home games are what you want,” he said. “It’s where we have generally been OK in terms of our performances, with a couple of cup games in there as well. I was really pleased last weekend in terms of the atmosphere and the style of the game.
“I thought it was two good teams going at it. Obviously, recognition goes to the fans who played their part in the banners to show their support for the players who have been through it in the last couple of weeks.
“It was a day of good unity amongst the fans, supporters and players, and we put in a performance which might have warranted three points on another day. It wasn’t to be, but if we approach the game like we did last weekend, and certainly our home games, we give ourselves a good chance.”
TRAINING THIS WEEK
“It’s been a good week of work,” said Taylor. “We had a reserve type of game on Tuesday where we got some more minutes into players that hadn’t featured on the first team pitch in recent weeks.
“Generally, it’s been a positive week. Some players who weren't available last weekend are getting closer to availability. We’ve obviously lost a couple with Ruel Sotiriou on international duty and Taylor Moore’s suspension. We picked up an injury to Lino Sousa, unfortunately.
“We might get a couple back and lose a couple others on the other end.”
PERFORMANCES
“We’ve got to force the issue in terms of the points return, goals return and the clean sheet return,” said the manager. “That’s the nature of the game and the business that we are in.
“We can speak long and hard about how pleased we were after Reading, but we lost that game and how pleased we were after Lincoln City, but we drew that game. One point out of a potential six, but it certainly feels like we are going in the right direction in terms of our performance.
“We’ve got to force the issue and make it happen. We have to be as strong as we were last weekend in our defensive box and put the opposition under a little bit more pressure.”
CRAWLEY TOWN PREVIEW
“They are a really dangerous team,” he said. “I think they are top of the possession charts in the opposition half. So, they are not only a good building team, but they move the ball really well.
“We’re at home. We have to force the issue, put them under pressure, play in their faces as much as we possibly can and make it a certain type of game where we are dictating what the tempo looks like.
“I’m looking forward to it as it is a different type of challenge to Lincoln, which is the beauty of the league this season. Every week will be something totally different.”
YOUNG GASHEADS
“It's really important to get young Gasheads at The Memorial Stadium,” said Taylor. “It’s the future in terms of the support base, but also who they are coming through the door with and why.
“Sport is a fantastic avenue for society. As long as they behave themselves, accordingly, conduct themselves in the right way and support the team, we need as many people in the stands as possible making the right type of noise.
“If we can inspire a few of the next generation this weekend with a performance, you never know, they might end up on the pitch in the future. But, for Bristol Rovers and a football club and Bristol as a community, it’s so important that we engage the fanbase.”
