FA Cup victory was a great confidence boost for Rovers
PAUL Tisdale has his first win at Bristol Rovers thanks to a ruthless 6-0 success over Darlington in the FA Cup, and the Gas boss will hope that result will spark his side into life in League One.
The goal-shy Gas - averaging less than one per game in the league - enjoyed the distraction of the FA Cup, excluding a tense and cagey opening to the game.
Confidence started to flow, as did the goals for Rovers. Of course, the opposition were non-League - but to deliver a drubbing in that fashion in this competition, regardless of the team you were drawn against, was impressive.
Don’t forget, in the first round Darlington beat Swindon Town, who in turn beat Rovers little more than a week ago.
For much of this season, the Gas have been gripped by unease on the ball and lengthy periods devoid of creativity, all underpinned by a lack of confidence.
Tisdale won’t get carried away by a win over National League North opposition while Rovers remain in the relegation zone, but he will hope Sunday’s performance delivers a much-needed injection of confidence and vigour when Gillingham visit the Memorial Stadium tomorrow. Here’s some talking points from Sunday’s game.
CONFIDENCE IS KEY
FOR 28 minutes, this was a tense afternoon that was shaping up as the visitors might have hoped. The Quakers had threatened, seen plenty of the ball and allowed little cohesion in Rovers’ play.
The Gas looked every bit a side struggling in the mind as well as on the pitch in the opening stages, but in the 29th minute they were not only gifted an opening goal, they were gifted freedom to play.
James Daly’s willingness to pursue lost causes again paid dividends as his presence forced David Atkinson into a horrible error, heading over his goalkeeper before Daly tapped the ball into a vacant net. That was undoubtedly the game’s pivotal moment, with Rovers rampant for the final 15 minutes of the half, playing their best football of the season. The connections between the playmakers were fluid, with Josh Hare and Erhun Oztumer finishing off eye-catching moves either side of Luke Leahy’s first penalty.
The second half was played in cruise control, yet Rovers scored two more, and after a difficult month this result was the ideal tonic ahead of what is a massive game against Gillingham. It should greatly help confidence.
It is often said the supposed giant in an FA Cup tie against lesser opposition cannot win, even if they advance to the next round. Because that’s what you’re supposed to do, but any time the back of the next is hit six times is a huge boost, regardless of your opponent. But the key for Rovers is to prove against Gillingham they are more than just flat-track bullies.
TISDALE’S MESSAGE RECEIVES A RESPONSE
THE Rovers boss was pretty blunt at full-time when reflecting on the opening 25 minutes, and rightly so.
It was a performance typical of Ben Garner’s time in charge. Too much lethargic, meaningless possession in their own third which served only to invite pressure.
Now it would be a huge leap to say Tisdale’s message from the technical area on 25 minutes - a demand for urgency in possession and for the midfielders to work harder to show for the ball - had any material influence on the game.
But it is a clear indication of what he wants from his players. The flowing football and well-worked goals will be the product of hard work without the ball and urgency with it.
THE WORLD OF FOOTBALL TURNS QUICKLY
LEAHY’S return to the fold shows how fast the ruthless world of football moves. A fortnight ago, he appeared a distant third-choice on the left side of defence in Ben Garner’s plans behind David Tutonda and Ali Koiki, but the 28-year-old has started the past two games and his pair of penalties will do his hopes of staying in the team no harm at all.
Contrast his sudden rise to Cian Harries’ situation. The defender’s was one of the first names on the teamsheet when Rovers played a back three, but with only two centre-back spots in Tisdale’s 4-2-3-1 the Welshman now appears fourth choice just a few days later.
Needless to say the pecking order is fluid and could swiftly change again, but it must also serve as a message to Rovers’ young talents that your place in the starting XI is never secure.