After another frustrating defeat for Bristol Rovers, Joel Cotterill stressed the importance of his side getting things right next week.
The Pirates have endured a difficult October, losing their four Sky Bet League Two fixtures and conceding 12 goals across their previous three matches, most recently falling to a 4-0 defeat to Crawley Town.
An own goal from Alfie Kilgour gave the Red Devils the lead before the break, before efforts from Harry Forster, Scott Malone, and Louis Flower gave them a comfortable lead over ten-man Rovers, who had Jack Sparkes sent off in the first half for a handball in the box.
The run of difficult results in October came straight after an eight-match unbeaten run across all competitions for the Gas, with Cotterill admitting it has been a difficult period for everyone at the Club.
“Yeah, I think it’s obviously not been the best three and a half weeks for us," he said. "Obviously, me being out for the last month, then just coming back into this now, you can tell that all of the boys are deflated. Everyone’s deflated.
“I just think it’s how we react, and obviously, the fans are upset; we completely get that. We understand that, and we don’t blame them because the results over the last three and a half weeks haven’t been good enough.
“I think it’s just a mentality thing, which obviously is massive. I think now, starting next week, things need to change quickly, and we’ve got a week now to work up until Bromley to put it right on that Saturday.”
Rovers' fixture against Crawley had plenty of match-defining moments. The Gas had a solid start, but quickly after Promise Omochere came off with an injury, then went down to ten men after Jack Sparkes' sending off.
Clarke's men avoided going behind from the resulting spot-kick, with Ryan Loft hitting the post and then could have gone ahead if it was not for a superb stop from Joe Wollacott, who pushed a strike from Shaq Forde onto the bar. Then, just moments later, Crawley went ahead through Kilgour's own goal, with a shot from Malone flicking off the defender and into the net.
Despite Rovers going down to ten men, Cotterill said the game was still in balance when the scores were level and even heading into the second half with Crawley narrowly ahead.
"I think sitting on the bench when I came off, just thinking that the game was just moments, but you get that in football," said Cotterill. “That is football at the end of the day, and we can sit here and say the handball has killed us, but we were still in the game, like you said. We had Shaq’s opportunity when he hit the bar. It’s just moments.
“If Shaq scored that, maybe it would’ve been a different game, but when they scored that first goal at the start of the first half, we knew we were still in it at half-time, because we did really well in the first half.
“I think coming back out at the start of the second half and them obviously getting that second goal, I think everyone's heads just dropped. But like I said at the start, it’s just a mentality thing; we need to stick together and not go under, really. But I think this week will be really massive for us."
Cotterill is looking to build his minutes at the Gas after making a Deadline Day move to the Club. After going on international duty for Wales U21s before making his first appearance for the Gas, the midfielder came off the bench against Barrow and Colchester United to earn a starting spot against Salford City.
However, a first-half injury forced him off, with Cotterill making his first appearance since the Pirates' win over the Ammies. He was pleased to be back and wants to help the team in any way he can.
"Obviously, it’s been tough for me after coming in," he said. "I came in on deadline day, then [went away on] international duty, came back, and came off the bench twice and started against Salford. The first minute I did my ankle, but I think a big thanks to all of the physio staff for getting me back as quickly as they could, but I’ve just been itching to get on the grass.
“Today I played at right-wing-back, not my natural position, but I’ll play anywhere. Wherever the gaffer wants me. So, for me, it’s definitely a positive thing. Getting 75 minutes.
“But I just need to build on that now and try and just stamp my mark and just stay in the team, because that’s just why I want and we need to get back to winning ways.”
The Gas will now turn their attention away from Sky Bet League Two and towards the Emirates FA Cup, with Rovers travelling to Bromley for the first round of the competition next weekend. No matter the fixture, Cotterill wants his team always to approach every game with the same mentality and believes the next week for the Gas is crucial.
"It’s a competition that any team wants to progress in," said the midfielder. "So, I think that might change a few mindsets, but I think in a way, we should still have the same mindset, which is if it’s a league game or a cup game.
"But we need to change that around very quickly, and like I said at the start, I know it’s tough for the fans because they don’t deserve that. We know that.
"It’s nothing to do with the gaffer or the backroom staff, we know that it’s players, it’s down to us. But I don’t think we are looking any different, like I said, we want to progress, but it should be the exact same mentality going into any game.
“Whether it’s a pre-season friendly or a league game or an FA Cup game, it doesn’t matter. Like I said, it’s going to be a big week for us, and we need to change around quickly.”
