Paul Trollope told the Bristol Evening Post how he informed his players that they have to give everything from the first whistle if they want to maintain their top-six challenge this season.

The manager was critical of the way his team started the game in their 2-1 defeat at Southend. He said: "We were at 75 per cent for large spells of the first half, although we did grow into it. But you can't be at 75 per cent if you want to win football matches - the players know they have to be flat out.

"Unfortunately, the start we produced wasn't good enough, and in the end that cost us the game.

"We knew Southend would start quickly and we made a lot of bad decisions with the ball. We were over-elaborating and trying to be a little bit too clever in the opening period and didn't pass and move like we can.

"We did improve as the first-half wore on and got on top towards the end of it. We got one goal back but missed the chances to get the equaliser we felt we deserved."

"There were some positive things, but a lot of negative things that we can't afford to reproduce. If we do produce an opening spell like that in too many games, we will soon slip down the league - and that's not what we want.

"There are going to be days when things don't click for us, but we still need an edge to our game. We knew we would need it after having two weeks without a game, but unfortunately we went 2-0 down before we showed it.

"We feel we've got eight to 10 away wins in us, despite losing the last two."

Lee Barnard had made light of Southend United's defensive difficulties to fire the Shrimpers to the win.

The Southend Echo described how his latest brace "was enough to upset the high-flying Pirates at Roots Hall, despite his side having just one fit centre-back in their squad.

"It's a really good win for us because Bristol Rovers have been doing really well and for me personally it was great to get another couple of goals," said Barnard, 25.

"The lads did really well to create the chances for me and the most important thing was that it got us back to winning ways with another three points."

United manager Steve Tilson said: "Barney has been great for us this season and to already have 12 goals is fantastic," said the Blues boss. The important thing is keeping him fit because if we do that then I'm sure the goals will keep on coming."

Tilson was also delighted to get the three points, especially as he had to field a makeshift defence which included Anthony Grant as an emergency centre-back.

He said: "There were a few scary moments at the death, but we still created our own chances and could have won by a bigger margin."

It was The Mail On Sunday which carried an incredible attack by Alan Pardew on the fitness regime at Bristol Rovers.

The Southampton manager, commenting after Saints had beaten Gillingham 4-1, with Rickie Lambert scoring the first, had a right go about the striker's fitness when he moved to the south coast from Rovers.

Pardew said to the MoS: "Rickie's fitness wasn't right when he joined us. When he came here, it was the first time he'd been with a club of Southampton's standing and previously hadn't been pushed, nor had to push himself.

"But we've worked him hard, and now he's a much better player."

It was an astonishing public outburst on the methods of fellow professionals particularly as Lambert is scoring regularly for the Saints. Maybe he is still smarting at And y Williams' last gasp winner at St Mary's Stadium for Rovers.

Norwich manager Paul Lambert refused to talk up his side's promotion chances after the Norwich Evening News described the Canaries 5-1 win against Rovers as a "goal rush."

He said: "You're only in October. You win nothing in October. It's May when you think maybe you might go up, but whether we are we don't know.

"My view of the squad is it's not big enough and we have to try to get a couple of lads in to give us a hand."

"I've been in the game long enough to think that you can play brilliantly all you want, but unless you win the game, it doesn't really matter. The game's all about winning.

"I'm pretty sure if we'd played cracking football and we'd lost, you'd be asking me different questions. My view on it is just try to win as many games as you can."

Because of that, he said he could not even relax when City were 4-1 ahead.

He told the Evening News: "The job's never done. I've seen games being turned round on their head. You're always a bit wary, no matter how good we were, Bristol Rovers, who are there on merit, could be equally dangerous. So I'm never quite at ease until there's about 30 seconds to go and we're 5-1 up - then I relax a little."