Darrell Clarke believes Bristol Rovers' West County derby clash against Swindon Town is a chance for the Gas to turn their disappointing form around in Sky Bet League Two.
The Pirates have lost the previous nine fixtures in the fourth tier, recently falling to a 4-0 defeat to Barnet on Tuesday night. Luke Thomas and Fabrizio Cavegn both went close to levelling soon after Adam Senior's opener, but could not find the back of the net, with the Bees going on to win comfortably at the Hive Stadium.
However, Rovers will be looking to bounce back in a derby fixture for the final match at The Mem before Christmas. The Pirates will face Swindon in the league for the first time since 2022, with both teams wanting to get back to winning ways after midweek disappointment.
Speaking to the media before the fixture, Clarke reflected on the Gas’ previous performance against Barnet and how the team will respond against the Robins.
BARNET REFLECTIONS
“I want to see a reaction in the games. The run we’re on is inexcusable, it’s painful, it’s hard, it’s tough. When you need men out there to stand up and be counted, we haven’t had enough of that over the last nine or ten weeks, to be honest with you.
“It gets tougher because, yes, we can talk about there are a couple of games in that run that we should comfortably win, but we haven’t, and that puts a massive rod in our back.
“Listen, the buck stops with me. I have to get more out of them; I have to give them more belief, more confidence, and try to get them to the levels that some of them are capable of reaching, but we haven’t done that.
“One thing I will say is that the players are holding accountability, which is in some ways good, but let’s see it because that’s what we need to see. We need to see that translated when the pressure's on, come kick-off.
“What better game to do it – a derby game – they’re flying, and what a better game to do it. To show that we have the character, we have a way to respond because it’s been too many weeks now that we haven’t.”
PLAN OF ATTACK
“Listen, I think most games we’ve looked attack-minded, getting the balance right, personnel missing. Nothing has been consistent over the last four or five months, but I can sit here and make excuses for this, this, this, this.
“Tactically, have I got it right all of the time? No. Never do, never have. No managers do, but I haven’t. For me, what we have to understand is, is that we go out to try and win every game and if we don’t take care of those moments when we get the moments in the final third and I’ve tried different systems, different personnel at the top end of the pitch, it makes it difficult for them when you concede a goal as well.”
“We want to get after teams; we want to get after Swindon tomorrow – it’s a derby game. I believe that anybody in this league is beatable, to be honest with you. I think it’s competitive, but no team has particularly blown me away.
“We’re obviously lacking confidence, lacking a bit of belief. That’s up to me to get the players going tomorrow, and I’m sure the fans will get behind that. In fact, I know the fans will, because if they see the team giving absolutely everything for the shirt and not accepting that diabolical performance we put on Tuesday night. The supporters will get behind the lads.”
SWINDON TOWN PREVIEW
“What a game to change it. What a game to start changing it and turning a corner because we’ve got to do that, and I have to do that sooner rather than later, so I don’t kid myself with that.
“So, it’s an opportunity tomorrow to turn that around, to get us moving in that right direction. To start getting the belief back into the building and confidence into the boys.”
