By Lewis Hughes
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game against York City at Bootham Crescent, Rovers boss Darrell Clarke reiterated the fact that he and his players are enjoying the run they’ve been on and they are looking forward to the match."We know that the game will be intense and that there are a few more twists and turns to come but we are enjoying being where we are in the league and I will be telling my players to go out and express themselves on Saturday and play the type of football that they have been playing all season.
"Of course we are aware two of our closest rivals for an automatic promotion place, Accrington and Oxford, also have important games this weekend but our focus can only be on our game because unless we win other results are immaterial.
"It’s going to be a great occasion on Saturday and it’s a great time to be a Bristol Rovers supporter because we have been a top seven side since December. The last quarter of the season has been unbelievable and with two games to go we find ourselves one point off of third place and two points off of second place. We travel to York full of confidence and on the back of a superb derby win, and a very good performance, against Exeter City.
"I’ve said all along that there are times when you have to win ugly and times when you win playing well. It doesn’t really matter as long as you win because the game is all about taking three points, even more so this Saturday.
"It would be foolish of anyone to underestimate York simply because their relegation to the National League was confirmed last weekend. They are unbeaten in their last five home games and they’ve only failed to score in one home game all season.
"York are obviously going through a tough time and we feel for them because we’ve been in a similar position ourselves and I’m sure they, like us, will bounce back soon.
"We will not be travelling thinking we have already won the game because, as I keep reminding people, everyone has something to play for. A number of the York players are out of contract at the end of the season and will be trying to earn themselves another deal. In addition, they have a number of loan players who are keen, young, hungry lads who have done well since they’ve been at the club.
"The atmosphere at Bootham Crescent will naturally be different to the atmosphere at The Mem but we are taking two thousand supporters with us and I know they will get right behind us. If we win on Saturday then the atmosphere for our final home game against Dagenham will be unbelievable and whether or not we gain automatic promotion or not could go down to that match. We know that York will provide us with a stern test but we are going there well prepared.
"All we can do is endeavour to take all three points on Saturday to go in to the final game with our promotion aspirations still intact."