Clarke calls on strikers to improve their play
DARRELL Clarke says strikers Alex Jakubiak and Gavin Reilly know they have got to get better to stake a claim for a Bristol Rovers first-team place.
The front men have struggled for first-team football since joining the Pirates in the summer, with Reilly netting once in 13 appearances and Jakubiak scoring twice in 15 games – both of which came in the Checkatrade Trophy.
Clarke feels both players were guilty of poor performances in Rovers’ Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Exeter City last week and says they know what they have to do.
He said: “Gav Reilly is working hard, he’s got to get better, same with Jakubiak. I thought they were both very, very poor in the Checkatrade Trophy and I let them know that. Their hold-up play was poor in those specific games and they’ve got to improve areas of their game, that’s the way I work.
“It’s not just about individuals, it’s about collective working as a group and getting the territory in games, and if the ball is breaking down every time the ball is at their feet like it did in the Trophy game, it’s not good enough, so they’ve got to raise their standards.
“They’re good lads, they’re working hard, Gav can sometimes feel a little more unfortunate than others, but they’ve got to impress me, like I keep saying, without wanting to sound arrogant, no player is biting me on the backside.
“We give them the best tools at this football club to go and perform and do it on a consistent basis, but some- times you’ve got to take your chances quicker than others take their chances.
“What I will say is, if you’re not scoring goals, play like Tom Nichols is at the minute, Stefan Payne, I thought Stefan had a better game the other night, it’s an all-round performance as well.
“For me, a striker scores a goal, but gives the ball away every time he gets it, you end up defending more than you have to. In the majority of games this season, we’ve had more opportunities than the opposition, so it’s about getting that balance right, players have got to perform when they get their chance.”
Rovers are back in action tonight when Barnet visit the Memorial Stadium for an FA Cup first round replay, and Clarke added: “There’s no relief from the League, I just want to win every game we play.
“Obviously it was disappointing on Saturday (a 2-1 loss to Scunthorpe), I’d have been disappointing had we drawn the game, to be honest with you, looking at it back two or three times. If you don’t take your chances, you don’t win games.
“Talk is cheap, to be honest with you, but we know where we fell short in a lot of games. I don’t know how many games it’s been now where we’ve been beaten by the odd goal, but most games, and that gives you confidence for the future as well.”
Should Rovers beat the National League side this evening then they will be at home to an even lowerranked non-League side in the second round, in the shape of Stockport County, of the National League North. Stockport knocked out Yeovil 3-1 at Huish Park in their first round tie.