Matt Taylor said that the FA Cup is currently at the top of his priorities and is excited ahead of the first-round clash against Weston-super-Mare.
The Gas will be looking to repeat an entertaining run in the competition after reaching the third round last campaign, earning a replay against Championship outfit Norwich City before losing 3-1 at The Memorial Stadium.
Rovers are up against a Seagulls side that are 16 unbeaten in all competitions, with Scott Bartlett’s team beating Wimborne, Chippenham and Lowestoft to get to this stage.
Taylor previewed the game against Weston, the draw itself, and delivered the latest injury news.
INJURY NEWS IN ATTACK
"Chris Martin could potentially play," he said. 'He got his half-a-game on Tuesday, and he recovered well. He felt no ill effects in that leg and bone, which he obviously broke.
"The rest is a little bit light. We have to understand and acknowledge that. It’s no excuses going into the weekend. That’s where we are and the circumstances we find ourselves in.
"I don’t want to sit here and rule Promise Omochere out on a Thursday afternoon. I want to give him as much time as we possibly can, but it’s looking less and less likely. He’s not been out on the grass as yet and the pain and effects he felt at the start of the week are still lingering. Maybe it’ll be a late call on Saturday.
STRIKER OPTIONS
"We’ve got options," said the manager. "Ruel Sotiriou can play as an out-and-out nine. He might not have the same physical profile as maybe the other three we’re talking about. Bryant Bilongo has done better than expected in that position.
"It’s not his natural position, but what he did at the end against Northampton so long ago and even that 25-minute cameo against Reading, he causes problems. He’s got pace, and power and can head the ball, so as a profile of a centre forward he’s not a million miles off."
FA CUP CLASH
"The FA Cup is at the top of my priorities," said Taylor. "The next one is always at the top. The Exeter game on Tuesday morning was at the top of that list because it’s the next one. Weston is right there. It’s a home game. We know the pressure will be on us as the home team and the league team.
"We’re playing against a team in form with nothing to lose to a certain extent. We know where the pressure lies, but it’s a great opportunity for us to get into the next round of the competition.
WESTON-SUPER-MARE PREVIEW
"This weekend, there might be more pressure because the expectation is there, with the difference between the leagues," he said. "But we internally fully respect Weston, certainly in terms of the form that they’re on and the job that Scott has done there for a number of seasons.
"We know some of the players they’ve got and are quite familiar to us. I’ve worked with a couple in the past, and they’re seriously good players, but if we’re on our game, regardless of who we’re playing, our home form has generally shown that if we’re where we need to be we’ll be OK.
"They’re not a typical non-league team. We respect Scott, his staff and the team they’ve got there. They’ve got some physical players, some strong players and some ball-handling players."
THE THOMAS BROTHERS
"I’m sure shirts will be swapped and that there will be niceties before and after, just not during," he said. "There will be no brotherly love during that 90 minutes of football, so we’re looking forward to seeing how that unfolds.
"But regardless of the actual football aspect, what a great day for the Thomas family."
REACTION TO THE DRAW
"It’s a local game," said Taylor. "I don’t think it’s classed as a derby, but it’s not a million miles away. From what I can gather, speaking to the kit man, he’s said that for Weston fans, their first or second team is Bristol Rovers or Bristol City.
"So, there’s some affiliation with Bristol as a city, a community and in the area. So, I think it’s a tie which gets people going. I think it’s a great tie for the area and a great tie for Weston, especially.
"Even more so because their fans don’t have to travel too far and will come in really good numbers."
