Steve Evans emphasised the importance of the fans at The Memorial Stadium ahead of Bristol Rovers’ home clash against Grimsby Town in Sky Bet League Two.
The Pirates have lost three straight defeats in the fourth tier, with two coming on the road, but the Gas have been formidable at The Mem in recent weeks.
Before the run of defeats, the Pirates put in some strong performances at home. Rovers were dominant in victories over local rivals Newport County and playoff hopefuls Walsall before a narrow 3-2 victory against Chesterfield in a fixture that could have gone either way.
Looking to bounce back after a 2-0 defeat to Oldham Athletic, where the Pirates had the better chances but could not convert, Evans reflected on Rovers’ last outing before previewing the game against Grimsby Town and talking team news.
OLDHAM REFLECTIONS
“I think when you lose a goal in 35 seconds, it’s about reaction from the team. I think we had to steady the ship for four or five minutes, but after that, the performance was really good.
“So, we’ve got to hope for a bit of luck. As I’ve spoken to the players this morning, you make your own luck in this game. Nobody gives you the right to win a game; you have to earn it. We’re going to have to face a really strong and committed Grimsby side to change that.”
CONFIDENCE IN THE STRIKERS
“Well, they’re in the right headspace. I think we’ve seen a very positive Joe Quigley. I thought his holdup play was exceptional; he should have scored a goal. We know that.
“Ellis Harrison is training better than he’s trained all season, so he’s in a really good place, and little Fabrizio is working really hard to get back on the goal trail. So, we’ve certainly got confidence in the building. Spirit within the building is first class, and you have to generate, sometimes, as a management team. You have to generate and make sure that it stays at that level.
Nobody gives you the right to win a game; you have to earn it. We’re going to have to face a really strong and committed Grimsby side to change that.
STEVE EVANS
BUILDING ON PERFORMANCES
“Listen. I think when Paul Raynor and I walked into the building, we expected good and bad, but you don’t lose 12, 14 games out of 15 or 16 and expect Steve to walk in and have a magic wand in his man bag. It doesn’t happen. We knew there would be peaks and troughs. Performances have been good in the main since the transfer window closed.
“Results have not always portrayed that; they have in some games, but they have not always. I think against Chesterfield, we deserved at least a point. Against Cambridge, it was as low as I’ve been on the Sunday after. I didn’t feel low on Wednesday because the performance was right, and if we get the performances right over a period, the results follow.
“The review of Tuesday’s game was very positive. We have to analyse the goals we concede because somewhere along the line, every goal you concede can be prevented.”
“Fans play a huge part, don’t they? The Mem has been rocking every time I’ve taken the team. Out in the tunnel, it’s been rocking, and we’re going to need it on Saturday. I think our fans have suffered for two years. They’ve been through two years of pain. They’re going to have to dig in for us.
“I’ve travelled to Grimsby to see it. I saw it firsthand. I thought they were really good on the night. I thought they had Walsall stretched on many occasions. David Artell has done a brilliant job, and they don’t just have a season where they beat Manchester United.
“We have our futures and our prides to fight for ourselves, and we’re going to need all of this. We’re going to need our supporters more than ever. If we go a goal down, we’re going to need them to sing louder, and I know that’s strange, but we’re going to have to do it.
“That’s what we had at Stevenage, we had people all around the ground and not anywhere near the numbers we have at the Mem. But with people all around the ground who’ve fought for the club’s survival, and that’s what we’re fighting for now.”
“We’re waiting for Shaq to be cleared medically. The Club Doctor has been in this morning and seen Shaq. He has been out on the grass; he’s worked incredibly hard in the last five or six days, but there are certain parameters that we need to clear, and we’ll see what the Doctor and the EFL conclude at the end of today. Obviously, we’ve got to make a decision in terms of the shape of the team, whether Shaq is involved or not, but he’s a big, big player for us. So, we’re hoping that we get a tick in the box.
“Clinton Mola is fine. He’s back in the building, did some work yesterday, and he’s trained really well this morning. So, Clinton, subject to training tomorrow, will be available for selection. It’s too soon for Riley. We’re hopeful for next Saturday, but it’s probably a few days too short.
“There are a lot of tired legs. I’ve obviously reviewed the performance from Oldham; the performance was outstanding in spells. How we’ve come away from that, speaking to the Oldham gaffer after the game, as he said, ‘you’re the best team by far, but we scored two goals, and we didn’t in a game that will always be about scoring goals.’ So, the performance was really good, and if we keep this performance level up at that optimum, then we’ll be fine.”
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