Bristol Rovers travel to Sky Bet League leaders Walsall on Saturday, with Darrell Clarke looking for his side to add a sixth win in seven outings to extend their strong form in the fourth tier.
After a challenging start to the 2025/26 campaign, the Pirates are now unbeaten in their previous eight matches across all competitions and have won five of their last six games. Drawing away to Colchester United almost a fortnight ago, the Gas returned to victorious ways with a 2-1 comeback win over fast starters Salford City last time out, coming from behind to win after goals from Ellis Harrison and Fabrizio Cavegn.
The fixture at home to the Ammies was tough in itself, with Karl Robinson's men having won three straight matches before losing at The Memorial Stadium. Nevertheless, Rovers' upcoming trip to Walsall is arguably even tougher. The Saddlers have only lost twice this term and have also won five from six in the fourth tier.
Speaking ahead of the trip to Walsall, Clarke reflected on the week of training before previewing a difficult fixture at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.
TRAINING THIS WEEK
“It’s been a good week. The boys have been at it, been sharp. So, it’s all good. It’s just the consistency with the way we work. If you’re winning, drawing or losing, obviously, things are a lot better, and people are happier when you’re winning because that’s the environment you want to create, but in general, it’s straight onto the next project, straight onto the next game.
“It's the consistency of the way we work. So, it’s been positive. We have to make sure the intensity levels in training are high, and we keep pushing the boys.
“We’re just pushing, we’re looking at different things, we’re working on different things, trying to improve defensively, in patterns and all those things that go into what will be a tough test against Walsall.”
THE SQUAD
“It's challenging times. We won a game on Saturday with seven or eight players out. It’s easy to look at excuses when you don’t win, and you go, ‘well, it’s because I’ve got seven or eight players out,’ but we won a game.
"So, why not look at that to give credit to the boys that have come in, they’re adapting, they’re training well and training well because it’s not something I tend to say, if something goes against us, I don’t complain about injuries, but let's have a complaint when we’ve won a game.
“It's nice, it’s not an excuse then. Credit to the boys that have been training hard, not played as many minutes, not been in the form they would have liked to be in, and the response last week was very good, but it’s a different test that we face on Saturday.”
WALSALL PREVIEW
“It's a tough away day against a team that is doing really well and a manager that I know a lot about because I gave him his first player-coaching role at Walsall. He’ll be frustrated they missed out last season with a positive start, but he’s got them up there again this season. So, it will be a good challenge.
“I’m really pleased for Matt. I spoke to him a couple of times in the backend of last season just to give him my support. He’s doing a tremendous job there. He’s an up-and-coming coach. We did a bit of an LMA masterclass the other day, and I think it’s now five or six of my previous coaches that have gone on to be EFL managers.
“I’m quite proud to have helped them on that journey, and Matt is doing a cracking job. We will have a beer on Saturday, but he knows me; he knows how much I want to win. I’m looking forward to what should be a really good atmosphere with a lot of Gasheads going up there for support.”
LOOKING TO WIN
“We’re going there to win. Make no bones about that, it’s our approach every single game. We are very respectful of the opposition. They have started the season very, very well, and someone said to me the other day that we’ve had our best start in 20 years, so we’ve had a good, solid start, but that’s all it is. Only about 25 per cent of the season is gone, so let’s go and try to pick up three points at a tough place to play.”
LOVING LIFE AT ROVERS
“I’m 48 in a couple of months; it’s a pressure environment, but I love my job, and I love managing this Football Club. I love what I do; it’s challenging, but it’s very enjoyable at the same time.”
