Bristol Rovers have won their last three fixtures at The Memorial Stadium, and Darrell Clarke is looking for another front-footed performance from his side to extend their impressive record at home.
The Gas' eight-match unbeaten streak in all competitions came to an end with a 2-1 loss to Sky Bet League Two leaders Walsall last weekend. However, they bounced back immediately with a triumph over Cheltenham Town in the Vertu Trophy in midweek.
The Pirates now welcome Milton Keynes Dons to The Mem, with Paul Warne's men holding promotion ambitions after a strong summer transfer window. The Dons are one point above Rovers and are unbeaten on the road, winning three and drawing three.
Wearing his Prostate United shirt, Clarke reflected on the midweek success over Cheltenham before previewing the clash against MK Dons.
REFLECTING ON CHELTENHAM WIN
“The team changes week in, week out. Everybody is pushing their case for the team. I think it was an important game for us in a competition I want to do well in. We got 90 minutes into Ruel Sotiriou and Ryan Howley, 45 minutes into Stephan, and I thought it was a decent performance. It was a game we dominated for long spells and probably could have won it a little bit more comfortably.
“But testament to my medical team and the work they have done with the players to get them through, like Ryan and Sotiriou. The work they have done with the rehab with Stephan has got him to get competitive minutes, and everyone is pushing for a starting place on Saturday.”
PLAYERS BECOMING AVAILABLE
“It’s a whole season project. You’re going to pick up injuries through the course of the season, and then it’s about rehabbing them right. I’m really pleased with my medical team now that we’ve got at the Football Club and they are doing things right. So, they get them fit as quickly as possible when they do get injured.
“It's part and parcel of the game, every manager up and down the country will always have four or five injuries in the camp. We try to limit those, we try and manage load, and it’s pleasing that the game on Tuesday night at Cheltenham was a good opportunity to get those lads important minutes.”
BACK TO WINNING WAYS MIDWEEK
“You’ve just got to win your next game. We were disappointed with the second half on Saturday. I thought the first half was tremendous, the second half was nowhere near the standard we want to be at, but there was a response on Tuesday. It’s another tough game, leading into MK Dons, but it’s nice to go into it on the back of a win in the Vertu Trophy.
MK DONS PREVIEW
“I don’t care who we are playing, with the greatest respect, being respectful to the teams we do play and their strengths and weaknesses. Like I said before, you’ve got to win a specific number of games to be successful in this division, and that’s our goal, to go and win the next game and to count those wins down to try and be successful.
“Everyone in the division knows MK Dons’ financial capabilities; they have a fantastic manager in Paul Warne and Richie Barker, his assistant. They are two lads that I get on really well with and have got a hell of a lot of time for. They are going to be up there, we know that, but we also know that we’re at home. It’s a game that we want to get on the front foot in; it’s a game that we want to win, obviously. It’s another team that is going to be up and amongst it at home.”
TOM LOCKYER
“I’ve always kept in touch with Tom, and obviously, he’s had a busy summer with all of his testing and getting fit after his ankle problem, and he’s come in to do some training with us. I’m delighted to have him around here, and so are the boys.
“Tom is a player that I had at a very young age. He became my captain and a player that I have so much admiration for, not only as a player, but as a lad as well and what he’s been through, and his family have been through, to come out the other end of it epitomises everything that I love about the lad. That resilience, that character and that determination and drive.
“He’s had a great career, and he wants to kick on that career. He’s 30 now, so he’s come in to do a bit of training with us. It’s been great having him around the place. He hasn’t changed one bit. He’s a great lad and we’ll see how things develop.
“I have managed some good players in my time here, but I always thought that Lockyer was going to be the one who made it potentially to the highest level. His work, his effort, his desire, his application to win every day in training, matches and winning at life. He’s a lad who doesn’t get beaten. He epitomises everything that the fans love about this Football Club as well, so I’m sure they are pleased to know he’s doing a bit of training with us.”
