Promise Omochere could not contain his delight at making a goalscoring return for Bristol Rovers in the 2-1 win at Tranmere Rovers.
Despite an injury cutting most of Omochere’s season short, the striker made his return by breaking the deadlock against Tranmere Rovers with a clinical finish.
The Sky Bet League Two clash started slowly, with a strong performance from Tranmere in the first half. Efforts from Omari Patrick and Kaiyne Woolery as well as Tommy Leigh for the Gas, narrowly missing the mark.
Second-half substitute Omochere proved to be instrumental for the Gas, cannoning his effort into the top right corner and opening the scoring. Despite, Jayden Joseph quickly levelling for the hosts, Yusuf Akhamrich found the back of the net with a late winner.
Speaking to BRTV after returning from injury, Promise Omochere is relieved to be back and playing for his side once again.
Well, Prom. First of all, it’s great to see you out there and great to see you with a smile on your face. How are you feeling?
“I’m feeling really good. Really, really good. Obviously, it has been a difficult few months. Just a difficult time in general. I don’t think people understand how frustrating it is and has been for me.
“Obviously, coming in with a lot of expectation and feeling like I’d just fallen short. It’s days like today that are the reason why I play football. You can see by the reaction of all of my teammates and the staff, and everybody.
“Everyone is just buzzing. So, I’m just really happy.”
Talk me through the goal. It was a moment of real quality from yourself and then the celebrations showed just how much it meant to, not just you, but everyone in the squad.
“I like getting in behind, so when I saw the opportunity to get in behind, luckily, I just poked it past the defender and then it just opened up. So, there’s nothing else in my mind but just to strike it. But luckily it went in and then I went straight for the staff, straight for the physio department.
“Obviously, Gavin has helped me massively with rehab and multiple injuries. So, it was for both of us, he’s been there through everything.
“So, you could see by the reaction of all of my teammates, they’ve been unbelievable. I can’t thank them enough. By the reaction, you can see how much everybody enjoyed it.”
I also saw Steve and Paul give you a big hug, how have they been to you?
“The Gaffer came in; I felt that he was a bit strict on me. Really, really strict on me. Obviously, you just want to be fit, you just want to be played. He gave me the tough love at the start, I was feeling sorry for myself, thinking ‘what did I do?’ But he’s been great with me.
“He believes in me and then, even today thrown me in, because I didn’t even think I’d play today. So, threw me on, first sub and then I was happy to repay his faith in me.
“The Gaffer and Paul Raynor have been unbelievable. Really happy.”
Tough game to come into. Tranmere are a tough side. They really made it a battle today.
“They did. They’re fighting for their lives really, so it’s difficult when you’re down there scrapping for everything really.
“So, watching it from the side, it was end-to-end. They really stuck it to us, so credit to the boys. They stuck with it and came out with the win.”
Yusuf is a bit of a talent, isn’t he?
“Oh my days! He’s a joke. When he scored, I felt like laughing. How easy does he make it seem? Come on. Rock up after ten minutes and stick one in the bottom corner!
“Yusuf is a top player, he has a big, big future. I’m really excited to see how he progresses in his career. He is a top player.”
That seven straight wins for the group, first time since 1953, Bristol Rovers has done that. That’s pretty impressive.
“It’s really impressive, but honestly, we came through a difficult patch. We started the season, middle of the season as well, you can see just how much of an impact the Gaffer and Rayns and the staff have come since that difficult period.
“So, seven wins in a row, looking to make history now, I think eight wins is the record, so I’m really looking to get that goal next weekend.
“No slowing down, just continue the momentum and then just carry on for the rest of the season and then next season.”
