Darrell Clarke believes Bristol Rovers' defeat to Fleetwood Town was a rude awakening for the group, but he is used to difficult situations as a Head Coach and is ready for the challenge.
The Gas fell to their second consecutive defeat in Sky Bet League Two at Highbury Stadium, with Will Davies netting a brace in the first half to give the Fishermen a two-goal advantage heading into half-time.
The Pirates were much improved after the restart, with Clarke adding attackers Ellis Harrison, Ruel Sotiriou and Luke Thomas to the mix before Promise Omochere scored from the penalty spot against his former side, but Rovers could not find a leveller.
Speaking to BRTV, Clarke reflected honestly on the goals Rovers conceded and the second-half performance.
So, Darrell, defeat here at Fleetwood today. How do you reflect on that?
"It was a frustrating afternoon. In the first 20 minutes, we started OK, and then we gave two of the softest goals away ever. The first one looks a yard and a half offside, and then we’re chasing the game.
"In the second half, we have a response, make a few changes, but there was a little bit of softness and a little bit of a mentality thing still in the group that we have to try and stamp out."
Those two goals so close together must have given you a mountain to climb...
"They were shocking goals. The first one looks a yard off, and the second one is shocking defending. When you’re doing that, you’re chasing the game. In the second half, there was a response, but then we scored the goal and came off what we were doing well to open them up on numerous occasions.
"We missed a lot of chances. So, it’s a rude awakening call for the group and ourselves, if I am honest with you, but I’m used to coming into teams that haven’t had that rhythm, haven’t had that connection, haven’t had that mentality, and we’ll get there."
Looking at the positives, the second half was certainly an improvement compared to the first...
"In the first 20 minutes, we had a chance, Promise had a header, and we had a couple of half-chances. Fabrizio Cavegn has half a chance. Then, they score a goal with what isn’t an attack; it’s just poor defending from our perspective. The quick one after that kills us a little bit."
Two games into a long season. Is it this part of the season where those mistakes need to be cut out?
"Yes, or they will be out of the team. It’s an area of the pitch we need to strengthen massively. We need two more defenders to come into the building, that is for sure.
"Two more central midfielders as well. We’re still looking and working hard to strengthen those positions and when that happens and I get the mentality of this group right, which will come, we’ll start becoming more of a team because at the minute, we’re a little bit bitty, we’re lacking a little bit of mentality; we’re lacking a little bit of confidence. There are one or two that have been here now for a period of time, not getting the rhythm at the minute, but it’ll come."
Promise Omochere gets the goal. That must help improve his confidence...
"Promise gets stronger and stronger with minutes. It’s about trying to keep him consistently so that he’s not breaking down with injuries. So, we’re having to manage that a little bit. Ellis has obviously missed a lot of pre-season as well, but he’s coming and getting more minutes. We’ve just got to build players up as we go along."
