Darrell Clarke praised his Bristol Rovers team for their ‘brilliant attitude’ in pre-season after the Gas beat Chippenham Town 2-1 at The Thornbury Surfacing Stadium.
The 47-year-old was looking to make a winning start to his second spell at the Pirates after achieving back-to-back promotions between 2014-18 during his first stint. Rovers got off to a perfect start when Ruel Sotiriou latched onto Promise Omochere’s cutback to score from close range, with the hosts levelling before the break.
However, a much-changed Gas team controlled the second half and found the winner through Micah Anthony, who was in the right place at the right time to convert a corner from the right.
Speaking to BRTV after the fixture, Clarke reflected on the win over the Bluebirds, the pre-season efforts so far and the upcoming trip to southern Spain.
So, Darrell, a 2-1 victory tonight. What was that like?
“The game was very bitty. For me, there are always good bits and lots of things to work on in these sorts of games. We didn’t start particularly well in the first ten minutes, and then we got a foothold in the game. We should have scored two or three before half-time; they put a few good blocks in.
“In the second half, it was very much a mix-matched team. The pleasing thing for me was that we got through the period with no injuries. That’s really important - the four lads who played 30 minutes missed a little bit of pre-season. Promise Omochere has done a little bit of pre-season but obviously missed a lot of time last year. So, we had to protect them a little bit on a difficult surface as well. So, it was a good workout.”
In the first pre-season game, is it about building the minutes, building the fitness and building the cohesion as well?
“It is, and getting those connections. It was always going to be a little bit bitty today when the changes were made, but listen, it’s always nice to win a game. It’s pre-season, and the work the boys have put in over nine or ten days has been very good. The atmosphere around the place is really positive. There’s lots to work on, but a really good first nine or ten days.”
How impressed have you been with the players in pre-season and what they’ve put in?
“The attitude has been fantastic, but I won’t accept anything else. But it’s been good. We’ve wiped the slate clean from last season. It’s a fresh start. Now, it’s going as quickly as we can to connect everything on and off the pitch.
"We’re working hard to do that. The staff have put in a lot of hours to make sure we connect as quickly as we possibly can. Unusually for me, I’ve got nothing to moan about in ten days, but I’m sure there’ll be more issues to come along.”
Five signings – how have they settled into the group, and what did you make of them today?
“The five signings have settled in well, but I’ll never judge a game like today. It’s a good workout, and I would like to thank the Rovers fans that came and supported the boys. I really appreciate that. I’m sure that’s helped a local team like Chippenham as well with their gate receipts. It’s a good effort by the boys from both teams, and we’ll go again.”
Next up, a trip away to Spain. How excited are you for that to put the players through their paces?
“It's not a holiday, let’s put it that way. They’re going to be working early in the morning and late in the evening. We’re going to put a hell of a lot of work in because there’s a hell of a lot of work to be done to get those connections there. But like I said, that starts on Sunday when we go out there. I appreciate the owners supporting us with a trip abroad, and we’ll make full use of the great facilities we’ve got out there to get the work in with the lads.”
How important are those trips away to really build those connections early on?
“It’s always important. All successful teams have that connection - not just on the pitch, but off the pitch - so, we’ve got to work hard to grow that as a group. The lads are getting on well together, but we’ve got a lot more work to do with that and a lot more work to do on our game plans. There is all sorts of work that we’ve got to do, and it will be a good workout there doing it.”
