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TROLLS - WE WANT TO CONTINUE OUR RUN

Posted on: Wed 17 Mar 2010

Paul Trollope is going into the two games this week hoping to extend the team's current run.

Rovers managed a draw against Tranmere on Saturday, and the manager is looking to pick up more points on the road from the next two games.

He told bristolrovers.co.uk: "Tranmere didn't offer too much attacking threat, but despite all the pressure and territory we had we couldn't quite create the clear cut chances to win the game.

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"It was a game we dominated, a game we will look at closely, so when that happens again, when teams do sit back against us, we need to be a little bit better to unlock the door.

"We feel we are in decent form, the expectation was to win the game on Saturday, it didn't happen, but we kept the running going and we want to continue it.

"We want to build on the away performance at Swindon, which was our first away win for a long time, and get to that level again for Exeter.

"If we do we will be confident of winning it. At this time in the season the lower teams are fighting for their lives and it is never going to be easy. They are not going to come to The Mem and play open attacking football.

"They are going to try and frustrate you, be patient in their defending and then try and hit you on the counter attack, so it is important you don't leave yourself open to counter attacks, and I don't think we did that."

Exeter have been on a bad run of form recently, but Rovers will not be underestimating their opponents on Wednesday night.

Trolls said: "They have got some experienced players who can pass the ball. They have slipped down into the relegation zone, which they are trying to get out of, so we have to be respectful of the opposition.

"They are going to be fighting for their life, they are going to be highly motivated and the crowd is going to be up for it as they want to stay in League One.

"We have made a big effort over the last three or four weeks of focussing on what we do, and making sure we get our own house in order, and it has reaped the rewards for us.

"We are going to do everything we can between now and Wednesday to make sure we rest and recover, work on things we need to, and we go into the game fresh and ready to go."

Byron Anthony was stretched off just before half time in the Tranmere game, but an x-ray showed that there was no serious damage, and he has an outside chance of being fit for Wednesday.

Trolls said: "It is very good news. He had a precautionary x-ray that showed nothing, and it progressed well yesterday, which is very pleasing.

"He elevated it all day and did all the right things, he can put weight through it, so he has a chance for Wednesday. It is an outside one, but it is better than we originally thought.

"He has been part of a good defensive unit of late, which is why we have picked points up of late. We are pleased with his form and keen to have him available for Wednesday.

"Jo Kuffour is missing today, he has suffered with migraines since the game on Saturday. We are hoping he is going to be fit for Wednesday, but we will know more tomorrow.

"Carl Regan is coming back from tendonitis in his knee, he is going to step up his rehabilitation today and again he may be available for Wednesday."

The management duo may still bring in a new face before the end of the emergency loan window, but they will not bring in anyone who they do not think will improve the team.

The loan signings made this season have really helped Rovers improve their form and start looking back towards the play offs.

Trolls said: "The deadline is drawing closer, there is still a possibility of a new face in by then, but it wont be happening in the next couple of days.

"The loan players this season have made a difference to us. We knew we were going to be going with a smaller squad in terms of numbers, and we have tried to shape things in terms of letting people go out on loan.

"Sometimes that raises an eyebrow here and there because they are people who have done well for us, but we are always trying to evolve it and move it on.

"The loan players have added to us this season both on and off the pitch. It has been well documented what type we are looking for and what we need.

"We went down a lot of dead ends in January, we were unlucky on a couple of occasions, but we are not going to force the issue and bring something in that is not going to improve us.

"In Jo Kuffour and Paul Heffernan we have two quality strikers and Andy Williams has made a good impact as well.

"We are certainly not going to be hasty and rush into something that is not going to make us better.

"We have looked long and hard, and went close on a number of occasions and were frustrated, as we do need a different option up there."

Rovers still have an outside chance for the play offs, and Trolls will be aiming to pick up points as quickly as possible.

He said: "All of the contenders for the play offs places will go through a tough spell of games where they have to play the top teams, ours comes right at the end, we have got a tough few last games.

"In terms of the pressure we are outsiders, people don't really expect us and we will go about our business and try and pick up points quickly.

"Our first aim will be to get to the 60 mark and if we can do that very shortly we will quickly crack on to 70 and you never know. For the players who were here three years ago, they know what is possible.

"With the games coming thick and fast you can quickly gain points, and this week is an opportunity to do that, just as we did through Colchester, Stockport and Swindon.

"It can quickly boost you and if results go right in other areas, gaps can quickly close. But we will focus very much on the Exeter game first and foremost.

"In terms of our progression, we have been in the top ten all year, we had a spell in the play off zone early in the season, and we are probably where we thought we would be.

"It doesn't mean we are excepting where we are, we are working very hard to push ourselves back up towards it and it would be good to nick in it just at the right time."

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