Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Tisdale: We will be fine this season
PAUL Tisdale insists he is “more than confident” that Bristol Rovers will climb clear of relegation trouble this season.
His side are hovering just one point and two places above League One’s bottom four with 20 games played, and consecutive defeats against Charlton and Crewe have left fans braced for an uncomfortable second half to the season.
But the Pirates boss is adamant his side will be “absolutely fine” come the end of the campaign.
“I look at the table every day of the season, because I’m a professional person and that’s where the team is judged,” Tisdale said.
“As a professional, of course I look at it and understand where we are. As a manager of this team, I’m sure we’re going to be absolutely fine.
“I’ve been in situ for two months. The team is beginning to play with some of the fluency I expect and would want to see in the team.
“Tuesday night at Crewe gave me great heart for what I saw and the energy and bravery in the team to play in certain areas and be forwardthinking.
“I’m trying to put my own stamp on things of course, that’s what I’ve got to do and I’m by no means there yet and I’m still trying to find the best way to get the best out of the players we have at Bristol Rovers.
“I am of course aware of the League table, every game is vitally important, no matter where you are in the table, but I’m more than confident, with the progress we’ve made already, with the players we have, with the feedback from the players, that we’re going to be absolutely fine and we’re going to move up the table over the next 20 plus games.”
Rovers go to the Kassam Stadium today to face an in-form Oxford United side riding a run of four League victories on the bounce, and Tisdale foresees a tough game.
“They play good football and I’m expecting some space and I’m expecting a good football match,” the manager said. “They’ve got a bit more form recently, so well done them, but with the way we’ve played for the last few weeks I’m expecting we can give them a good game.
“As close as you are to losing two or three in this League, we’re as close to winning two or three in a row. That might be the start of a run.”
It is understood, however, that Rovers have failed in their pursuit of Preston striker Jayden Stockley.
The 27-year-old is set to join League One rivals Charlton on loan until the end of the season.
Stockley played under Tisdale at Exeter City, and Rovers are thought to have intensified their interest in the target man over the past week, and were hopeful he would reunite with his former boss, only for the Addicks to swoop in.
The striker is out of favour at Deepdale and the signing of Ched Evans from Fleetwood earlier this month pushed Stockley further down the pecking order.
The main obstacle facing Rovers was how the bill for Stockley’s salary would be shared by his parent club under the League One salary cap.