Spirits are high at Bristol Rovers after the Gas claimed a 2-1 win over Salford City last weekend. However, going into the upcoming clash against Sky Bet League Two leaders Walsall, there will be few players higher on confidence than goalkeeper Luke Southwood.
Last weekend, in Rovers' match against the Ammies, Southwood made a salient save for the Gas when he denied Salford's Luke Garbutt's last-minute penalty to help his side claim a fifth win in six outings. His stop came after goals from Ellis Harrison and Fabrizio Cavegn put the hosts ahead following Matt Butcher's early opener.
It was a perfect ending for Southwood in a successful month for the Pirates, who claimed three wins and one draw in four Sky Bet League outings. The shot-stopper missed Rovers' 3-2 win against Newport County after being selected in Northern Ireland's international squad.
Nevertheless, he provided vital saves in the Gas' wins over Barrow and Salford and made a handful of stops away to Colchester United.
Speaking to the media, Southwood reflected on his goalkeeping heroics and the work that goes into moments like that during the week.
“Yeah, it was like the goalie equivalent of a last-minute winner,” he said. “So, yeah, it was brilliant. It gives me confidence moving forward, and it gives the lads the rewards for all of the hard work that they put into that game.
“So, it’s all good and exciting times, but we never look any further than the next game, which is tomorrow. As I said, that’s as good as it gets for a goalie in terms of last-minute saves and the last kick of the game.
“That’s what we work for, that’s the moments we are able to bring to the team and to be able to do it in a way that then gives us the three points, which is important and obviously what we work so hard to do. Week in, week out.
“As soon as I realised it was a penalty, I sort of just went into full focus mode – try and work out who’s taking it and then from there, try and figure out what I’m going to do and what way I fancy for that player.
“I said it the other day, and then at that point it’s just trying not to go early, try and go as late as you can and just go full commitment because as a goalie, you never want to half-heartedly one way and not quite cover it. Make sure, whatever way you’ve chosen to go, just go full commitment and hope for the best from there.”
Last week’s penalty taker, Garbutt, had already scored two goals for the Ammies, one of which was a spot-kick against Tranmere Rovers. Southwood explained how he prepares for penalties.
“Not much [preparation] to be fair, maybe just if one of their players has had a load of pens in recent games, I might have a look.
“I do a lot of feeling and what I feel in the moment, and obviously every situation is different, so I feel like a player who takes a penalty in a situation where we’re 3-0 up after ten minutes is going to do it differently than in the 95th minute where it’s 2-1 and they’re trying to a draw.
“So, I do a lot of feeling and trust my instinct.”
Due to injuries in the squad, Head Coach Darrell Clarke changed Rovers' formation against Salford, switching to a three centre-back formation with Clinton Mola and Taylor Moore playing alongside Alfie Kilgour at the heart of the defence. As a result, Southwood's view directly in front of him changed, but his style of play remained the same.
“I think I play my game, regardless of what’s in front of me, and that sort of stays the same,” said the goalkeeper. “I think the messages we get from the staff here are so consistent, week in, week out, that we saw how the lads did and came in clear in the second half and were in the five in the first half.
“But with Clint, especially in the second half, in the four of what we’ve been working on so much, they just slip, and everyone does the job really well, and I think that comes from the consistent work that we do here every week, that everyone knows the roles and what’s expected.
“We’re all slowly starting to get on the same page, which I love. Off the ball, I think that it’s pretty similar. We know what we’re doing. But on the ball, it sort of changes the picture in front of me. It makes my decision slightly different.
“Like I said, we do so much work through the week that we’re all on the same page and after all the work we do Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; come Saturday, we know what the staff are looking for from us and it’s just executing it the way they want it.”
The Gas have been unbeaten for their last seven Sky Best League Two matches, with five wins and two draws, so the stakes are high for the following fixture against Walsall. The Saddlers currently sit at the top of the fourth-tier table with a comfortable 22 points.
“I think every game in this league is hard in different ways, and we’ve had different challenges against different teams that are all hard in their own way,” said the goalkeeper. “Walsall will be another big test. I think they’re obviously doing really well and they’re doing something right; they’re the top of the league.
“But like you’ve said, we’ve got the confidence in what we’re doing here, and if we can go to our next game and execute what we know we can, we’ll have a good chance in the game.
“We know there are lots of games left, and we’re only ever looking at the next game and not really ever looking at the table, I don’t think. But we know that it would be a big statement if we could go and beat a team like Walsall this weekend at their place.”
Results might have turned positively for Rovers in recent weeks, but despite a difficult start to the 2025/26 season, Southwood believes the spirit has always been there.
“I think the spirits have been high since the start, to be honest,” he said. “Even when we didn’t start well, we knew what we were building towards, and they’re such a good group of lads and staff in there that every week seems to be a good week.
“We’re always learning. We’re always working hard. Obviously, we keep seeing the rewards from it.”
