Football Rovers manager admits he ‘hoped for better’ after Trophy exit
PAUL Tisdale admits he had “hoped for better” from his much-changed Bristol Rovers side in their 1-0 defeat to AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday.
Jack Rudoni’s deflected goal was the difference between the sides in a drab EFL Trophy third-round tie, in which Tisdale rung the changes ahead of a hectic run of league fixtures.
The result was a scrappy performance lacking in cohesion, with Rovers’ fringe players largely failing to convince the manager they are worthy of a place in his starting XI.
“It was a performance full of effort but lacking in fluidity and a little disjointed,” said Tisdale.
“I hoped for better, because I tried to put across some direction before the game, but it didn’t quite manifest itself that way.
“As I said before the game the changes were made for a whole host of reasons, but I still wanted to win the game and I think we could’ve done much better.
“We tried incredibly hard but disjointed is probably the best way to put it. I was disappointed we didn’t test their goalkeeper more. We had some pressure and had some finalthird competition late in the game, but we didn’t play particularly well.”
Among the players returning to the XI were Abu Ogogo and Alex Rodman, who started their first games for Rovers since the spring.
Ogogo spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Dagenham & Redbridge, but Tisdale wants him to play a role for the Gas as they vie to climb away from relegation danger.
“Abu did okay,” said Tisdale. “It was a difficult game to just be dropped in on. He hasn’t been with us for a while, one half-day’s train
The changes were made for a whole host of reasons, but I still wanted to win the game and I think we could’ve done much better
ing was all, and obviously played in a completely different team with no rhythm in the side. I know what he can do so I’m not judging him on tonight’s performance, but he’s in the reckoning going forward.”
Rodman missed several months of action after suffering complications from an ear infection in preseason, and Tisdale was pleased to see him involved again.
The manager said: “It was a really important 70 minutes for Alex. I have to look beyond the fact that we lost the game and seek out the positives because that gives me another player closer to being match fit.
“We’re going to need as many players as we can get going forward because there are so many games to be played.”