Alfie Kilgour knows his Bristol Rovers team need to recapture their form from earlier in the 2026/27 campaign and get back to winning ways after losing 2-0 to Chesterfield at The Memorial Stadium.
After a positive start to November, where the Gas reacted to five defeats in six Sky Bet League Two with cup success over Sky Bet League One outfits Cambridge United and Reading in the Emirates FA Cup and Jersey Mike Trophy, respectively, Rovers had confidence heading into the league at home.
However, they could not bring the momentum into the fixture against Chesterfield, with goals from Louie Marsh and Lee Bonis netting either side of half-time to give the visitors the victory.
Speaking to the media after the game, Kilgour said the players are doing everything they can to get the winning mentality and performances the Gasheads will be proud of.
REFLECTIONS ON THE GAME
“Yeah, tough game, tough afternoon. Obviously, ultimately, we're all very disappointed. First half, it was pretty clear that they had come with a game plan and saw how we performed against Cambridge.
“It was tough to get out; it was tough to get our rhythm, obviously. We huffed and puffed a little bit and made changes, but the first half was disappointing, and we just couldn't quite get the momentum and a foothold in the game.”
STRUGGLING FOR CONSISTENCY
“I think obviously, rightly so, all the fans ask, and the manager and everybody, for consistency.
“Having non-negotiables of work rate and getting stuck in, being hard to beat, running forward, running back and running over teams, which is what we did at the end of last season and in the early parts of this season. We had that identity, and it's just not quite coming off for one reason or another.
“As you said, I can't speak for the whole team, but on a personal note, I try to give everything. Obviously, there's going to be a lack of quality here and there.
“Consistency is massive, and that's what we need to gain. We need to get that winning mentality and that front-foot mentality because that's when we're at our best.”
A CHANGE IN FORM
“I mean, football's been played for hundreds of years, and no one's quite got that figured out. Sometimes you don't change anything, and you're winning every week.
“Then you don't change anything, and you can't win a game. It's tough, but all you can do is work hard on the training pitch, live your life right, be the ultimate professional, and hopefully you'll get the rub of the green, and something will turn.
“It's a head-scratcher when you go from winning week in, week out and being hard to beat, feeling like we weren't going to concede a goal.
“It's tough, but we're all working towards the same goal, and we do work hard day in, day out in training. We've got a good group of lads and good professionals. Maybe it's time to be more ruthless with each other and keep the standards high. Ultimately, we're all trying to work for that winning mentality and get that winning run going.”
NEED FOR A STRONG MENTALITY
“There are lots of sides to football, and having that mentality when you go 1-0 down or 2-0 down, not to give in. I've been out there before, been 2-0 down and gone on to win 3-2, or at least get a draw.
“But that's not for a lack of effort or a lack of trying. I'm with the lads day in, day out. We're a good group, we're an honest group, and we're hard-working, but ultimately, we need to start winning games and finding that winning formula.
“That's what we're doing day in, day out. It is tough, obviously, but we'll stick together and work hard, and I'm sure it'll come.”
STEVE EVANS AND PAUL RAYNOR
“Ultimately, they're trying to find the winning team and trying to get it right. If that's changes that have to be made, fresh faces coming into the team or different shapes, that's what needs to be done.
“But ultimately all they ask is that the lads work their socks off, get stuck in, run forward, run back, be aggressive, be disciplined and be hard to beat. That doesn't change. If you have all those things, you'll win games of football.
“It's not rocket science. As I said, we're here to stick together, keep grinding, keep working hard on the training pitch and be good professionals. That's all we can do, and I'm sure it will turn.”
IN A TOUGH PERIOD
“It is a tough period. Obviously, off the back of what we did last season, that's probably what hurts the most. We've lost a few games; it's not the end of the world, but we do need to start getting results.
“The fans will be hurting, as am I and as are all the lads in there. You don't want to lose games of football. You want to be in a winning team, making your families proud, with the fans cheering you off the pitch and that feel-good factor around the place.
“When that is around this place, it's unstoppable. I've seen it as a young boy in the stands, and I've also been very lucky to be a part of it as a player.
“We need to keep working hard and get those performances in because, as I said, when we get that feel-good factor and the fans are with us, the atmosphere out there is unbelievable.
“But we're not giving them a lot at the minute. We're not giving them a lot to get behind, so that's on us, and we know that as players.
“We'll do everything we can to turn it around.”
