Manager on tomorrow's game
Darrell Clarke is hoping to see a little bit more quality on the ball when Rovers travel to The Hive to take on Barnet tomorrow night.But the manager was pleased with the clean sheet his side picked up during the first game of the season.
He said: “It is good to start playing games. I thought Saturday’s performance was a little bit edgy, understandably, but there was a fair bit of promise at the same time and pleasing to get a clean sheet.
“I am looking for better quality on the ball tomorrow.
“We have got a point in the bag and we have to move on to what is going to be another difficult game tomorrow night at Barnet.”
The manager believes that Barnet will be another team challenging at the top end of the table this season.
He said: “They have got a very experienced manager, who has done very well in his footballing career. I think they will be another team that will be up there.
“Martin Allen knows the league very well, and he knows Barnet very well, and I think they will be right amongst it.
“I think they find themselves in a similar situation to ourselves, with a strong 16, but not as much strength in depth as they would probably like.
“It is a very competitive league and we just have to take every game as comes on its merit, there are no easy games.”
And the manager is still looking to bring in a striker and a winger to strengthen his squad.
He said: “I have made a couple of phone calls this morning, and I am in dialogue with the Chairman at the moment.
“There is a striker who can play wide who I put in a loan bid for, I am still waiting on the wide player I have been after for a week or so and there is also another striker that I am attempting to get in.
“I am after a wide man and a striker, and it is moving behind the scenes.
“I think we will have them in by the weekend at the latest, but it is a little bit frustrating that it is taking this time.
“I am happy with the squad at the minute, but I am always looking to strengthen.”
And Rovers have signed goalkeeper Will Puddy on non-contract terms as cover while Kieran Preston is away with Scotland U19s.
Darrell said: “Will Puddy is a goalkeeper I know very well, I managed him for a couple of years at Salisbury, and with Keiran Preston away with the Scotland U19s, it is an opportunity for Will to come in for a week.
“He is looking for a club and I am very pleased he is coming in for a week or two to help me out.”
For the full interview, visit Gas Player.