Bristol Rovers Head Coach Darrell Clarke Verdict on Relegation Effect on The Team

Bristol Rovers head coach Darrell Clarke said some of his players are still “wounded” from relegation last season and need to let “the shackles” off.

The Gas fell to a second consecutive defeat on their return to League Two on Saturday, with a 2-1 loss away at Fleetwood Town.

Clarke re-joined Rovers in May, straight after the 2024-25 campaign ended, for his second spell in charge at the Memorial Stadium, having been at the club between 2014-2018.

“I said to the players after [full-time] there’s a mentality in the group that’s a little bit fragile, that needs to get stronger,” Clarke told BBC Radio Bristol.

“There’s one or two still wounded from last season’s debacle and we have to get them ready and primed and making sure that mentally they’re in a lot better place.

“One or two of them do have talent but they’ve got to come off with the shackles and stand up to the foray.”

Against Fleetwood, Rovers topped all of the stats, with the majority of possession, 14 shots to the hosts’ seven, more attempts out of the box, more crosses, more passes, and almost three times’ more successful passes in the final third.

But they conceded two goals in quick succession midway through the first half and while Promise Omochere pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 74th minute, the Gas are still without any points this campaign.

“There’s so much work to do with this group but I’m used to this, I don’t come into clubs where it’s all rosy and flying, I come into clubs to fix them,” Clarke added.

“We need a momentum change, but the fans were fantastic, I know they’ll get behind it because they know what I’m about and what we’ll be coming to get.

“We want that sooner rather than later but the good times won’t be too far away, trust me on that. The more work we do with the group in all aspects of the game the better we’ll get – and we have to.”

With defender Connor Taylor having signed for Wycombe Wanderers last week, Clarke said the club need reinforcements particularly at the back and in midfield.

“We need good players in to strengthen those positions and all of a sudden we look a much healthier squad,” Clarke said.