Western Daily Press (Saturday)
These are the games you want to play, says Taylor
BRISTOL Rovers manager Matt Taylor has insisted that “these are the games you want to play” ahead of the Gas’ difficult festive period, starting with a trip to second-place Bolton Wanderers this afternoon.
Ian Evatt’s side have been League One’s in-form outfit over the past two months, going on a 12-game unbeaten run across all competitions following a shock 3-1 home defeat to Carlisle United in early October. However, that unbeaten run was ended at leaders Portsmouth on Monday night in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
It’s been one win, one draw and one defeat for the new Gas boss as yesterday marked two weeks since his appointment with the 41-yearold still learning about his squad and new surroundings. However, today’s contest, on paper, is set to be the toughest match his side have faced since he came through the door by some distance.
Looking further ahead, the calendar continues to look unforgiving with a trip to eighth-placed Blackpool next weekend before hosting Portsmouth on Boxing Day.
Speaking ahead of today’s trip to Bolton, Taylor said: “These are the games you want to play. Three of the best teams in the league, Three teams with either a history of higher levels or ambitions of higher levels or have been at higher levels recently and are challenging at the right end of the table in this current climate.
“So, you know, fantastic games of football, all good places to play football, whether that’s Bolton this weekend or Blackpool next week or even the home game on Boxing Day against some of the best players this league has got to offer.
“We need to be at our best if we’re going to get anything from any of these games over this Christmas period and if we want to be serious about challenging towards the top half of the table. It’s a bit of a test and this will be where we find out a little bit more in terms of where we can pick up points against some of the best teams in the league.
“Everyone can talk about it (promotion) but we’ve got to make it real. You make it real by competing and picking up points, something we’ve probably not done enough of so far this season.
“We’re kind of in that mid-range block at the moment. We’ve almost got to break that next level up and get up in that group which are really challenging and that’s ultimately the top half and then the top 10 and then if you’ve got a chance of winning the top 10, you’ve got a chance of pushing for play-offs. So it’s small steps, it’s little moments, but it’s these moments where you’ve got to pick up points.”
Although Tuesday night saw Rovers record their first win under the new manager as well as advance to the third round of the FA Cup following a convincing 4-2 victory at Crewe Alexandra, there was some disappointment as right-back Jack Hunt picked up a groin injury that is likely to see him ruled out for this weekend’s game at the very least.
Taylor also touched on the other injuries in the camp with another right-back, Luca Hoole, potentially ready to make the bench.
“He [Hunt]’s going for a scan”, the Rovers manager explained. “But it’s looking unlikely that he’ll be involved at the weekend.
“Gibbo [James Gibbons] picked up the back injury on Monday. So we’re assessing him on a daily basis. He’s not recovered as quickly as we’d have maybe liked or hoped. So we’ll assess him.
“Obviously, Flash [Lewis Gordon] is on the pitch at a low level capacity on the back of his hamstring injury.
The longer term absentees of George Friend and Jordan Rossiter are nowhere near contention. So we’ve got a few issues.”
There has also been discussion regarding the make-up of Taylor’s backroom staff with Academy manager Byron Anthony and lead physical development coach Steve Tully currently involved on a temporary basis following the departures of Glenn Whelan and Danny Ventre alongside former caretaker manager Andy Mangan. Goalkeeping coach Anssi Jaakkola, first-team coach Kevin Bond and head of sports science Tom Short are still at the club and have been seen leading warmups at the past three matches.
The new Gas boss went on record after the 2-1 defeat at Crawley Town last week that Anthony and Tully were working with the first-team for the time being but further discussed what could be possible as he looks to find the perfect balance.
On when decisions could be made, Taylor said: “Potentially in the next few weeks. We’re conscious it’s Christmas. We’re conscious it’s a chaotic period for the football calendar. The rest of the world kind of stands still and enjoys the festivities whereas we just go hammer and tongs for a few weeks with so many games in quick succession.
“I’m assessing what we’ve got here, what’s in the building and what can potentially be brought into the building, what we need to improve.”