Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers exited the FA Cup in the first round at the hands of League Two Tranmere with Darrell Clarke insisting that you couldn’t tell which team was the league side.

“If you look at the game as a whole, I don’t think you could tell which side are in League Two.

“Tranmere must think they are very fortunate to have got away with a victory.

“We are very disappointed, we’ve chucked everything at them and really deserved something from the game.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half especially for 35 minutes.

“I can’t ask for any more effort from the boys, you can tell that from the reaction they got from the supporters at the end of the game.

Rovers created several chances but failed to hit the back of the net for only the second time in 13 games but it is Rovers performance in the final third that is so infuriating for the Rovers boss.

“It is so frustrating that I’ve had approaches for players turned down because I think we’re just missing that final bit of anticipation in the box.

“I’ve had loads of strikers chucked at me from all levels of the game but they aren’t the answer.

“I’ve gone in for three players and we haven’t got them but we will keep working.

Darrell welcomed back Ryan Brunt to the team as well as a substitute appearance from loan signing Lyle Della-Verde and the manager was impressed with them both.

“Ryan [Brunt] is definitely in my plans, I needed him to go out and get some games but he has put in a great shift today.

“I thought Lyle [Della-Verde] did really well today, and he is a fantastic option to have in the wide areas.

“He has good pace and a trick in his locker. As you saw at the end of the game he has a good strike on him so I’m hoping he has a good month with us.

Last week’s match winner Ollie Clarke missed out through injury and joins Neal Trotman on the treatment table with the Rovers boss hoping both parties will be back soon.

“Ollie [Clarke] wasn’t going to be risked today, he pulled out of training with a tight hamstring on Tuesday so didn’t train the back end of the week.

“Neal [Trotman] we are hoping two or three weeks.

Up next for Rovers is a mid-week trip to Alfreton with Darrell Clarke insisting that getting promoted is the clubs main aim.

“We just need to get out of the Conference Prem.

“This side would be a top 10 team in League Two but what we need to do is get out of this division this season.

“That is our aim for this season, we need to be in that top five, be in with a chance of winning the league.

“Tuesday is going to be another tough game, very different to this one but we need to be bringing home those three points.