Darrell Clarke believes his Bristol Rovers team threw away the points in their 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town in Sky Bet League Two.
The Pirates started strongly and had by far the better chances in the first half, with Ellis Harrison shooting over and Fabrizio Cavegn testing Joe Day with a low drive. The Gas continued with their pressure after the break but conceded against the run of play against the Robins.
Jonathon Tomkinson netted the only goal, with the centre-back making a late run to get on the end of a corner to convert from close range to give Cheltenham their first victory in three outings. For Rovers, it is seven straight defeats in Sky Bet League Two, with the Pirates unable to make the most of their opportunities in recent outings.
Speaking to the media after the match, Clarke was disappointed with his result and reflected on the Gas’ mentality.
Darrell, another frustrating afternoon done by a set piece today. What do you make of that?
“Exactly that. Exactly that. Over the last few weeks, we talked about basics while doing the things that you need to do well to get points out of games. Then we don’t do our job for a set piece, and they score with their own attempt on target.
“So, huffed and puffed again. In the final third, we hit the post a couple of times. They didn’t really pose any threat. We didn’t have enough quality to break them down on a more consistent basis, and then we switched off at the set piece. It's the way it’s going at the minute, it’s a tough old slog.”
How will you break that down then? Will there be things you were happier with today?
"I don't see any happiness when we’ve lost, if I’m honest with you, because at the end of the day, if you’re not going to do the basics of the game, concede a goal from a set piece, there’s nothing positive to me about that.
“I’m sick of saying that, to be honest with you. But what I will do is keep fighting, always. It’s a real negative place at the minute, rightly so with the results that we’re having. I’ve got to keep a siege mentality with the players, but I’ve also got to keep smashing out that softness out of them because one soft moment costs us the points again today, so it’s not acceptable.
“I always let my feelings be known to my players, but also, we can’t become victims. We’ve got to roll our sleeves up and go again.”
And sorting that out and keeping that positivity, does that just fall on you, or can other people help with that?
“We’ve got one or two leaders in there, Lockyer obviously coming into the club. One or two experienced players. We’ve got Ellis, who knows what the club is about when things aren’t going well. I obviously do as well.
“But sometimes I want to see that come from within as well. Like I’ve said to the boys, I’m the most resilient guy you’ll ever meet, in my opinion. What I’ve gone through in my life and what I’ve gone through in football, I’ve always got back off the canvas at night and I continue to do that.
"That’s what I remind my players, don’t become victims. Too many soft victims in there for me at times after the game today. I expect on Monday morning, we’ve got to work again, roll our sleeves up and work hard to turn it round because that’s the only thing you can do.
“Nobody’s going to help us; there’s not going to be any support. The fans have lost their patience, I get it, I understand it. Great fanbase. Great support today. I get that. So, nobody’s going to help us. It’s not going to be a magic wand where someone’s going to go, ‘come and give us a cuddle’ or ‘I’ll give you a cuddle’.
“No. We’ve got to do it ourselves. Today was a more dogged performance, defended well, hit the post a couple of times, had our moments in the final thirds, didn’t take them.
“Defensively pretty strong most of the game, but it counts for nothing if you don’t get in throughout the game, and that’s what we did today, we chucked away the points again.”
Does that soft underbelly with some of them surprise you?
“No, because sometimes it’s the modern-day player who becomes victims. I think it’s too easy. I think when things aren’t going well in their lives, the resilience isn’t there, the appetite to prove people wrong is what I need to see.
“And don’t get me wrong, when I start to get one or two back and start changing the culture within that, the lads get on great. The culture at the training ground is good. But we’re really soft at times. Like that today.
“And then until I can get one or two more men back in the team, some more leaders back in the team, the other lads have got to dig in and show a little quality as well.”
Do you think your message is getting through?
“Obviously not at the minute. No. It isn’t, because of the number of defeats. It's nowhere near getting through to be honest with you, but I want to keep drilling that message, keep fighting that message.
“My staff and I keep working. Keep chipping away to give our supporters something that they deserve, and they deserve a hell of a lot better than what we’re giving them.”
