Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor is “pleased” with his side’s current performances ahead of Saturday’s crunch match against Crawley Town.
Taylor’s job had started to come under scrutiny by the fans, but the mood has shifted for the majority with a belief that fortunes have started to change.
Rovers have only lost two league games at home all season, with the side sitting in 16th place in League One.
Last weekend, Shaq Forde’s goal was cancelled out by a Jack Moylan strike as The Gas drew 1-1 to Lincoln City. They’ve had a week off to look ahead to the game versus 21st place side Crawley who are managed by Rob Elliot, after Scott Lindsey left for MK.
“Yes. Next game, big opportunity” Taylor exclaimed. “And if we play anything like [against Reading and Lincoln] we’ve got a good chance of winning this game of football. I’ve watched Crawley live three times this season. I watched the Shrewsbury game, watched the Burton game, I was there on Tuesday night and they are fantastic in terms of a certain style of play.
“They are top of the league in terms of possession and combination play in the opposition half so they move the ball and move the ball really effectively. But we have to respect that, acknowledge it and counteract it but then also take the game to them.
“The last few games I’ve been generally pleased. Even on the back of it, it was Shrewsbury going into the Reading game, large parts of the Reading game we were exactly where we needed to be.”
✨ 𝙏𝙄𝙈𝙀𝙇𝙀𝙎𝙎 𝙑𝙄𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘾𝙔
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) November 14, 2024
Introducing the 2024/25 Bristol Rovers Third Kit!
Rovers lost to Reading, away from home, which was a good performance from Taylor’s side, but the decision to send Shaq Forde off meant they just ended up losing out at the Select Car Leasing stadium.
“I know we didn’t beat Weston in 90 minutes,” Taylor said. “But a lot to like about the character and some aspects of that performance and then probably our best home performance, bar the Charlton first 60 minutes, our best complete home performance against a tough team at the weekend.
“But I can’t say Reading and Lincoln are real positives when we took one point out of a potential six. We have to win games of football, but we certainly feel we’re moving in the right direction. But for the confidence and the feel-good factor of the players and supporters and everyone involved in the club, you need a three points and a big three points to back it up.”
Bristol Rovers have struggled with injuries all season, especially in the striker department, with Bryant Bilongo having to lead the line in the second half against Lincoln.
Chris Martin has missed a large chunk of the season after an injury against Stockport and his return to the side adds a different threat, which has been seen in recent matches.
“Yeah, it’d be great to have that option,” Taylor said. “But even going back to the start of season and where Chris Martin is now, sort of, three games in his reintroduction to it and not been available for such a long period and whilst he’s come back into it, we’ve lost Promise and Gats at the same time and Ruel’s not available this weekend.
“I think that’s part and parcel of being a manager and I think that the top level managers are complaining about the amount their players are playing, I don’t think we can put that towards the EFL or the Football League or whatever it may be. But injuries are part and parcel of it. Suspensions are part and parcel of it. International call ups, even when we’re still playing, are part and parcel of it. I think it’s the same for any manager across the board.
“So, as always, it’s probably survival of the fittest in terms of who’s got the biggest squad and the best squad to choose from, which is why the ones with the bigger budgets generally do better.”
T20 Vitality Blast champions @Gloscricket will be visiting The Memorial Stadium on Saturday!
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) November 15, 2024
Josh Shaw, Marchant de Lange, Archie Bailey and Joe Phillips will be pitchside at half-time before undertaking a lap of honour around the pitch with their trophy. pic.twitter.com/xQ7GZJbO2g
Crawley achieved promotion last season through the playoffs, after a 2-0 win against Crew Alexandra at Wembley. The did however had lots of exits in the summer, with key players like Danilo Orsi, Corey Addai and Klaidi Lolos departing.
In September, Scott Lindsey made the shock decision to step down a level to manage MK Dons, and he was replaced by Gateshead manager Rob Elliot.
“I can’t say I’ve watched Gateshead live an awful lot,” Taylor added. “But their reputation is of a footballing team at National League level. So the similarities in terms of, probably Rob’s progression to Crawley, very similar in terms of their style of play and the way they play. So it kind of worked in relation to that.
“He’s in the world of League One football where he’s gone into the best League One it’s ever been, which is where we all are, which is an incredible one to experience. It’s fantastic to be part of. But week in, week out, it’s just a constant challenge and as a manager, you always want your team to be competitive and he’s getting that out of his group of players at the moment.”
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