Taylor understands why Rovers were booed off

MATT Taylor accepts and understands the boos that rang out around the Memorial Stadium at both halftime and full-time of Bristol Rovers’ 2-0 defeat to Reading on Tuesday night, as his side’s woeful run continued.

It’s now been more than seven matches since Rovers last scored a goal, and the players out in blueand-white quarters certainly looked as though they were feeling the pressure as a poorly-defended first goal, scored by Sam Smith after 10 minutes, set the Royals on their way in a first half that was difficult to watch for the Gas contingent. A Lewis Wing free-kick, just before the break, put Ruben Selles’ side firmly in the driving seat as Taylor’s men struggled to show anything of note in the final third.

However, similar to last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Bolton, Rovers came out of the changing room with significant intent as they sought a way back into the game following a triple change that saw James Wilson, Scott Sinclair and Chris Martin replace James Connolly, Luke McCormick and Jevani Brown, respectively.

The Gas’ best opportunities saw Sinclair have an effort cleared off the line and fellow substitute Brandon Aguilera force an excellent save from Joel Pereira before the hosts seemed to run out of steam and were eventually booed off the pitch by large sections of the crowd.

Asked if it was hard to hear such jeers of discontent when marching off the pitch, Taylor admitted: “It’s always hard when you hear people disappointed.

“I totally understand and accept it. I’d be the same if I was a supporter of Bristol Rovers at the moment. I just feel there are too many who aren’t where we need them to be and that’s myself included at the moment. I’ve got to find a way of getting what I do put out on the pitch, good enough to perform and perform in a certain way where we survive for a little bit longer in a game as opposed to having to chase, which we’re constantly having to do.”