Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers take a break from league action this weekend as they take on Dorchester Town in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying round and Rovers boss Darrell Clarke insists that he has a full squad to pick from.

“We’ve got one or two knocks but as a whole the squad is all ready to go.

“The boys on loan can play this weekend, which is good otherwise we would have a very small squad to pick from.

“We want to get as far as possible in these cup competitions so we will be taking the game very seriously and although we don’t have a massive squad we won’t be making too many changes.”

Darrell has had success in the FA Cup both as a player and as a manager and states that this season it shouldn’t be any different.

“It’s a great competition, I love the FA Cup.

“I did pretty well as a player and done pretty well as a manager managing to reach the third round with Salisbury.

“This game can be taken as a bit of relief away from the league and it can be something that the boys can enjoy but it is a potential banana skin at the same time. 

“We want to be in that first round draw, but first of all we need to go to Dorchester and do a professional job.”

Saturday’s opponents Dorchester Town currently occupy 16th position in the Evo-Stik Southern League table and picked up a good 1-0 win over Burnham on Tuesday night but Darrell insists that it is another tough challenge.

“Dorchester have had a good cup run a few years ago where they beat Plymouth but they’re a good non-league club.

“I went to watch them myself Tuesday night and they have got some players that can hurt you on the day.

“We take each game as it comes and Dorchester are another difficult test and their lads are going to be really up for it but for me it is about us and if we are on our game then we will go through.

Rovers have been allocated 2,500 terraced tickets for Saturday’s cup tie and the manager hopes that supporters will be there in force at 3.00pm.

“Our fans are great and follow us in fantastic numbers so I’m sure there will be a good number there on the day.

“Our supporters are a very loyal bunch and will follow us wherever we go so I hope that a good number head down and get behind the boys.