After three straight defeats in Sky Bet League Two, Jack Sparkes suggested that the Bristol Rovers squad are using their difficult run of form to regroup and go again.
The Pirates know one positive result can be enough to turn the momentum in their favour. The Gas started the 2025/26 campaign with three consecutive losses, but a 0-0 draw with Oldham Athletic was the start of an eight-game unbeaten run across all competitions before a 2-1 loss to Walsall ended their good run of form.
Darrell Clarke's men will now be looking to react on the road after two disappointing defeats at The Mem, falling to Milton Keynes Dons and Tranmere Rovers.
Sparkes was surprised by the tough run of results and is keen to start another unbeaten streak.
"Obviously, it has been difficult," he said. "We probably didn’t see it coming. So, maybe that’s a reason why and maybe we got a little too complacent, but the MK Dons game was a blip, and we didn't really expect to be doing the same the week after. It's been difficult, but in a way, not a bad thing because it’s a chance to regroup and try and start that run again.
"We had a meeting on Sunday morning, and it’s important now to bounce back and do the right things that we had previously been doing, not that we had intentionally come off the pace and what we were doing. There was a bit of complacency, and we find ourselves with three defeats in three.
"We’re looking to bounce back and focus on ourselves, and we have been doing the right things in training. We have had a really good week, a positive week, and we’ve worked hard. So, hopefully that can come into play on Saturday."
Rovers kept three straight clean sheets in their eight-match unbeaten run, but have struggled at the back in the last two weeks and have conceded eight goals across their previous two fixtures, with Sparkes hoping his side can put things right this weekend.
"I think it’s a wake-up call," said the left-back. "Maybe at times we have ridden our luck a little bit, even in games where we were unbeaten, Grimsby being one of them, where they had a lot of chances. We did well to keep the ball out of the net, and we got a few clean sheets, but conceding eight goals in two games at home is not acceptable, really. We’ve got to put that right now.
Looking further up the pitch and in the attack, Promise Omochere has not played since coming off away to Colchester United in September, with Ellis Harrison also suffering from an injury against Tranmere last weekend.
With Rovers forced to assess their option up front, Sparkes admitted his team might have to adjust their style to suit Fabrizio Cavegn, who offers different strengths.
“We know what Fabrizio is good at, and that’s running in behind and hassling defenders," said Sparkes. "We might have to change a little bit in terms of what kind of service they get. Fabrizio probably doesn’t want it to his chest or in the air, so maybe we have to play a little bit more to feet, but we’ve got to be open to that. Whoever we’re playing against will bring different tests.
“We can only focus on ourselves. We’ve had a good week, prepared well for this game on Saturday. So, we’ve got to hit it hard now and try and get a result.”
