Football Tisdale: We must do the basics better against Stanley
PAUL Tisdale will be looking for his Bristol Rovers side to do the basics better in tonight’s League One game at Accrington Stanley.
Rovers sit 19th following Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Rochdale, and have taken only one point from their last five league outings.
Another tough test awaits against ninth-placed Accrington, and Tisdale wants his side to get back to the kind of performance which served them so well in a goalless draw at Peterborough last Tuesday.
Tisdale said: “Every game is about basics, you build from basics and do things properly that way. On Saturday the challenge was a bit different to Tuesday and they’ve lost those basics, so I’m learning fast.
“No matter who the opposition is, I’ve got to get those basics into them, maybe it’s not just a conversation but it’s something more.
“We’ve got a long way ahead of us but we can’t think like that. It’s got to be the next game and every three points is highly important.”
Rovers could be boosted by the return of striker James Daly, who has been sidelined by an ankle injury.
Speaking after Saturday’s game, Tisdale said of Daly: “He has a chance to be in on Tuesday, I’ve seen him back in training for four or five days of full training, which is not a lot when you’ve been out for six or seven weeks, so there’s every chance he’ll be back in as soon as possible.
“It was also a boost that Sam Nicholson played against Rochdale and looked really sharp, so fingers crossed he’s going to settle back into it.”
Meanwhile, Accrington boss John Coleman has plenty of respect for Rovers and manager Tisdale.
Looking ahead to tonight’s game, he said: “Bristol Rovers are a bigger club than us.
“Paul is a good manager, it’s nice to see him back in football, he has a good pedigree and plays football the right way.
“I know every team is capable of beating us, I believe we can beat anyone but also know, certainly in League One this season, that you are capable of losing to anyone.
“Bristol Rovers are a good side and we have to be at our best every time we play.
“I have seen enough this season that you can’t take any game for granted, every team you play poses its own problems. All the bottom teams, we haven’t really done well against so we have to try and focus on the way we play, bear in mind what threat the opposition pose and try to take away the expectation of the players and just try to do your best.
“If we can get to the highs of Hull and Plymouth for big parts we have a chance, but it’s only a chance.”