Rookie Ben Garner takes the reins at Bristol Rovers
HIS appointment as Bristol Rovers manager may have come as a surprise to many, but Ben Garner is determined to prove his worth.
The 39-year-old was selected to take over from Graham Coughlan, who left to join League Two outfit Mansfield two weeks ago.
Garner has not been a manager before but has extensive coaching experience. He has worked under the likes of Ian Holloway, Tony Pulis, Neil Warnock and Alan Pardew.
After starting off in Crystal Palace’s academy, Garner progressed to the role of first team coach and later became assistant manager at West Brom.
Following a stint as assistant to Steve Coppell at Indian Super League club ATK, he has now been handed the opportunity to be the manager in his own right – and at a club flying high in League One.
“I’m very, very excited,” he said.
“It’s been a long process getting to this point and a lot of hard work has gone into getting to this stage.
“I’m delighted to be at Bristol
Rovers. It’s a fantastic club with great support and it’s a wonderful opportunity for me. There’s great potential to move forward and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Although his reign got off to a disappointing start with a 2-1 home defeat against lowly AFC Wimbledon on Boxing Day, Rovers still lie sixth – in the final play-off position – heading into today’s testing game at Fleetwood, the team directly below them in the table.
“It’s a really good platform,” said Garner. “Full credit to the players and staff. They have done really well to put the club in a strong position. I want to build on that and push on.
“I’ve watched virtually all the games and I’m up to speed on the squad, how they’ve done and where I think it can go forward. Now it’s about getting to know the players and working on the grass.”
As he gets used to making the big decisions, Garner can call on the experience he’s had working under managers who have bossed at the top level.
“They are all very different managers,” added the rookie boss. “I’ve learned from their strengths and vast experience, and it’s been a great learning curve.
“They’ve passed on a lot of their wisdom and also told me about the mistakes they think they have made. It’s prepared me thoroughly for this role.”
Meanwhile, Ipswich boss Paul Lambert has cast doubt on his long-term future with the club.
Although the Tractor Boys are second in League One, they have failed to win in their last six league games and also exited the FA Cup at the hands of Coventry.
The Blues had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home against mid-table Gillingham on Boxing Day and the early season optimism is in danger of fading.
“I don’t fear the sack,” the Scot told BBC Radio
Suffolk. “I’ve been long enough in football to be ready to say thank you if there’s a knock on your door. Nobody knows, I don’t, I have to wait and see how I feel.
“If I’m not the guy to take Ipswich on, I swear to God I’d love nothing more than Ipswich to get to the Premier League.
“Whether I’m here or not, I’d love to see the club get there, it’s a great club, but I’m also a realist of the game, I’m not going to kid people on. This is an established football club that deserves to be a lot higher than it is, and if I’m not the guy, then it’s no problem.”
Former Norwich boss Lambert, 50, took over in October last year following the sacking of Paul Hurst, but couldn’t keep the Tractor Boys in the Championship.
DARREN Ferguson knows he has little time to get his high-flying Posh side back on track following their crushing defeat to Doncaster.
Peterborough, who face Rotherham today, have shipped five goals against Rovers this season without reply and Ferguson is keen to not let this latest setback upset their push for promotion.
Former player Kieran Sadlier scored in either half before captain Ben Whiteman curled in a late third for Rovers, which ended a run of six matches without a win.
The closest the hosts came to scoring was in the second half, when Ivan Toney’s looping header from a Marcus Maddison corner was headed off the line by Tom Anderson.
Sadlier has now scored in his last three matches against Peterborough, including the 2-0 win in the reverse fixture.
Ex-Donny boss Ferguson admitted: “We’ll take it on the chin and we’re fortunate the games are coming thick and fast.
“There wasn’t three goals in the game, but it’s all about the scoreline. Goals change games and the second one is a big goal. Unfortunately it was for them. It was a really poor goal to concede. I thought we started the game really well and were on the front foot. Sadlier just seems to be always scoring against us. His goal gave them a lift.
“We had 18 attempts on goal and you expect to score from at least one of them.
“The most important thing is we continue to create chances and keep clean sheets. And hopefully we will get some bodies back soon.”
Darren Moore was delighted with a second dominant win for his side against
United and now turns his attentions to facing Sunderland at home.
Moore said: “We’ve now played them twice this season and scored five and conceded none, which is a real feather in the cap.
I’m delighted, but I won’t get too high.
“We’ve spoken to Sads about letting his shots go because he shoots strong off both his left foot and right foot. And he got his just rewards.
“I’m really pleased to get the three points. We know what an excellent team Peterborough are and they carry a wonderful goal threat.
“They’re a strong team.”