Since arriving at the Club this season from Bolton Wanderers, goalkeeper Luke Southwood has quickly established himself as a key figure on and off the pitch for the Gas.
Southwood was named vice-captain behind Club captain and fellow summer arrival Alfie Kilgour and has been an ever-present for the Pirates this term. The shot-stopper has made 13 appearances for Rovers in Sky Bet League Two, only missing three fixtures in the fourth tier due to being on international duty with Northern Ireland.
Luke has been crucial in some of Rovers' fixtures this campaign. Huge saves away at Bromley in the Emirates FA Cup, and multiple penalty saves against Salford City and Gillingham have made Southwood a favourite amongst the Gasheads.
The Pirates are looking to turn a disappointing run of form around, with Rovers losing their previous six games in Sky Bet League Two. Southwood knows the Gas have a talented squad and has full belief that the team can turn their form around.
“We’re all fully aware, obviously, that what’s going on at the minute isn’t good enough for the level of player that we’ve got in the changing room," he said. "We’ve got full focus on turning it around and full belief that we can do it. We know the quality is in there; we just need to find that formula similar to our good run and get back on that momentum and confidence.
“I think we’ve shown in different games and in different periods the team we can be. We know it’s a 90-minute game, and I feel like for 90 minutes against Gillingham, I thought we were the better team for most of it, and they had that one moment, and we don’t quite take our moments, and that’s the difference at this level. So, we’re fully aware of what we need to do to bring it all together now, and we’ve got to start seeing that on the pitch.”
Having been named in the leadership team at Rovers, Southwood has the responsibility of keeping the group together and demanding the standards that Darrel Clarke and his team expect from the side.
“It’s a fine balance," said Southwood. "Obviously, we’re demanding standards here and we know everyday week in week out, how our work and we do that, but then obviously it’s about seeing that on a Saturday and instilling that confidence ready for the Saturday.
"So it’s not all backs against the walls, we can go out there and play with freedom and show what we can do, so it’s finding that balance of we’ve got hard work Monday to Friday, but obviously it’s just about now as a team and individuals we need to show up on a Saturday for a full 90 minutes.”
Southwood has saved two penalties this season, pushing away a stoppage-time spot-kick from Luke Garbutt to secure the Gas' victory against Salford City before denying Max Clark's strike against Gillingham. A penalty expert so far this term, Southwood revealed his secrets.
“I pick a way and hope for the best," he smiled. "I do a bit of research beforehand and look if there’s any trends or anything like that, but it mostly goes on feeling on the day. Once I’ve committed to a side or middle like I did the other day, I'll sort of just stick with it and hope for the best.”
The Gas added experience to their ranks last month, with 30-year-old Tom Lockyer moving to the Club after leaving Luton Town. The Wales international gained promotion to the Premier League with the Hatters, so he knows what makes a successful dressing room.
Lockyer plays just ahead of Southwood, who constantly communicates with the defenders in front of him during games, with the shot-stopper impressed with the centre-back since joining the Gas.
“He’s brilliant," said Southwood. "You can see the quality he’s got from the start. He had so long without playing, the fact he’s come in and hit the levels straight away just sort of shows the quality he’s got, and then as a leader and a bloke it’s just great to play behind him.”
Southwood is back at Rovers after missing the Vertu Trophy fixture against Plymouth Argyle and the Sky Bet League Two match versus Accrington Stanley whilst on international duty with Northern Ireland.
A defeat to Slovakia and Luxembourg in the World Cup qualifiers saw the Green and White Army finish third in Group A, securing a play-off spot. Northern Ireland have been drawn to face Italy, with Southwood backing his nation against the Euro 2020 winners.
“I t was obviously an incredible draw that we got yesterday. It's a tough game in the circumstances and it's away from home, but I think we go there with the squad we’ve got and the belief we’ve got that we can give anyone a game and have a right chance.
"We went to Germany away recently, which is obviously a similar sort of calibre of fixture, and we were disappointed to lose the game, so just can’t wait for that, but there’s a lot of time between now and then, so a lot of stuff to concentrate on before then.
