Darrell Clarke was frustrated after Bristol Rovers’ loss against Harrogate Town today at his home dugout, but he is determined to get the place flying again.
The Pirates battled in their first game of the season against the Sulphurites in their Sky Bet League Two opener; however, they fell short of a win. A positive half-hour for the Gas saw many opportunities created in the first half, with Promise Omochere's effort pushed wide and Taylor Moore hitting the bar.
Despite many efforts from the Gas and substitutions in the form of familiar face Ellis Harrison and youngster Ollie Dewsbury in the latter stages, it wasn’t until Harrogate’s Stephen Duke-McKenna slipped behind the defence and arrowed it past Southwood that Rovers’ fate was sealed.
Speaking to BRTV, Clarke reflected on the Pirates’ performance and what is next for his side.
So, Darrell, defeat to start the season, how do you reflect on that one?
“I'm disappointed, to be honest with you. I thought the first eight minutes we were on top and gathered momentum, the crowd were with us all the way.
“Got to score in that early 30-minute period, where we’re having a lot of territory, a lot of opportunities we hit the post, we had one or two near misses, we don’t finish those opportunities, and then I thought there was a real lull.
“The last 15 minutes of the first half and a real lull at the start of the second half, which is frustrating and disappointing to be honest with you because I mentioned it to you just before we went out at half time that we needed to step it up and get back to that first 30 minutes, but that didn’t come to fruition.
“I think when the changes came on that freshened us up a little bit more, but to give that disappointing goal away, we were always chasing the game away then, so frustrating.”
You mentioned those first 30 minutes there. Does it show at this level that if you don’t take your chances, you get punished?
“You’ve always got to take your chances, but I’m learning a hell of a lot in a five-week period with these boys and they know where I stand and they need to quickly pick up the messages that I’m actually giving them because there’s certain things I’ve seen out there that I wasn’t happy about and we’ve got to improve.”
“We can’t afford lulls, especially when we’re at home, when we want to be on the front foot, that 30 minute period has to be a 90 minutes for us, at least 60-70 minute period if that and I didn’t see enough of that after that 30 minutes, so we have to learn, we have to learn quickly.
“My coaches and certainly have to learn it quickly about the group. A hard week, ready to go again next Saturday.”
Looking at the positives you can take, it looked like a lot of chances came from set pieces, which must be really encouraging.
“Yeah, but we’ve got to do better to finish those opportunities. We had one or two balls dropped there, not sure we reacted quickly enough at times.
“I think a poacher scored a goal today, if I’m honest with you, somebody who’s a natural finisher, I think. Gets a goal, gets on the end of a drop ball inside that box when there’s a lot of fireballs when there’s a lot of composure.
“We get a lot of crosses in the box. I think I remember them only having one touch in our box in the first half. So then to concede the goal as we did in the manner, we’re chasing the game, that’s frustrating.”
I know that’s what you expect from substitutes, but it did really look like Dewsbury and Ellis Harrison when they came on, really pushed the team forward and created some good chances.
“That’s what you want, you want a freshness and energy coming in from the bench. Obviously, Ellis is catching up, he missed a lot of the pre-season programme, but we’ve shown glimpses of what Ellis is about when in first contact, I think his scores life is a little bit sharper to be honest with you.”
“He was unlucky with the finish. Ollie gives us energy in the final third, gives his mobility in that final third, so with that and the Swiss boy coming in, it hopefully freshens up that front area of the pitch, which we’re going to need.”
I’m sure your messages to the players is that there is 45 games left to go.
“Listen, there is, but we’re disappointed today, fans were out in the numbers and are quite emotional, going across the pitch, the reception I got, so a lot of work to be done.
“I didn’t really kit myself before I came in; there are a lot of wounds from last season. With one or two players, we quickly need to heal them, because I’ve seen a little bit of that today, if I’m honest, and we have to find a way, in a structural way, where confidence comes back into those boys.
“It’s early days, it’s only one game, and we’ll be working hard with them on the training pitch.”
The Gasheads really packed out the Mem today. How proud are you of them for their support today?
“Very much so, it’s a dark time, it’s very much dark days at the minute. We’re disappointed that we haven’t got that win for the opening day, but there will be brighter times around the top corner, that’s what I can guarantee them.”
And finally, Alfie Kilgour, the Captain, Luke Southwood, Vice-Captain as well, why did you make those decisions?
“Listen, because Alfie’s a born leader, he epitomises everything that I’m about. Luke’s been there, seen it, done it now, League One, he’s calm, he’s composed.
“Leaders in the changing room and got a bit of leadership group as well, so we’ve just got to keep working at the principles and get the club back to what we need it to get back to, and once we start taking off, we’ll get the place flying again."
