Darrell Clarke could not have put it any better when he said Macauley Southam-Hales' strike would have been fitting to win any game, with the right-back's strike enough to help Bristol Rovers beat Grimsby Town 1-0 in Sky Bet League Two.
The Pirates were searching for their first victory away from home since January. They were up against a Mariners side coming off the back of eliminating Manchester United from the Carabao Cup at Blundell Park.
Nevertheless, Rovers had gained momentum themselves, earning four points from their previous two fixtures in the fourth tier and a thrilling contest from Tottenham Hotspur U21s in midweek, coming from three goals behind in the Vertu Trophy to end the contest level at 4-4 before winning on penalties.
Rovers weathered early pressure from Grimsby before scoring the winner just before the half-hour mark, with Macauley Southam-Hales blasting a low volley from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. Speaking to BRTV after the fixture, Head Coach Clarke reflected on the performance, the winning goal and three straight clean sheets in Sky Bet League Two for Rovers.
Darrell, it’s a victory away from home. How do you reflect on that one?
“It’s a dogged-out performance. I thought the goal was fitting to win any game, if I am honest with you. I’m really pleased to come to an on-form team that has started the season well.
“To get the three points and the first away win is important. It’s something as a Club that we weren't very good at last season, and you have to get your fair number of points if you’re going to reach the goals, and today was a starting point for our away form.”
Grimsby have plenty of momentum at the moment. How important was it to get through their early storm and put your stamp on the game?
“They are a good team, and David Artell is doing a cracking job here, so we knew it would be difficult, but I also thought we had our moments and perhaps could have got a couple of goals as well, but we’ve had to defend well. I’ve had to change the shape numerous times, and there are reasons behind that because we’re not at the levels I want us to be at, but that will come.
“We had a midweek game on Tuesday, and now we’re Saturday, Saturday, Saturday. We can have a well-earned rest, but we can also get the levels up to where we need them. We defended well, but we don’t need to be hanging on the way we are in games at the minute.”
Being able to have Macauley Southam-Hales on the pitch consistently must be pleasing...
“I want all of my players fit and on the pitch. He’s experienced, he’s a leader, and he’s part of my leadership group. He brings that experience and know-how to the team and the Club. It’s why I’ve brought him into the Club, and what a finish by him.”
In the second half, was it about battling away to keep a third straight clean sheet in the league?
“Somebody told me beforehand that it’s been three years and six months since three league clean sheets. That’s a long time for a football club not to get three league clean sheets. It’s a bit of a monkey off of our back, and we defended really well at times. We rode our luck a little bit at times today, but we’ll take that.”
Winning any sort of game must breed confidence in the squad...
“Three points are good, but the objective doesn’t change from where I sit and where I stand. There is a hell of a lot of work to be done with our group, but testament to the boys today, they put their bodies on the line and got the three points.”
Finally, you mentioned it before, but now there is a full week until the next game. That must be good...
“We look forward to getting the rest, and we’ll be working hard on the training ground. Win, lose or draw the game, we’ll assess the week, build into the week and try and get the fitness levels up with the lads and get rest in one or two to be fresh for next Saturday.”
