Richie Smallwood is enjoying life back at Bristol Rovers after a strong start to the Sky Bet League Two season, and he is looking forward to facing former side Rotherham United at The Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The Pirates are top of the fourth tier after winning the last three matches, recovering quickly after a disappointing 3-2 defeat to York City on the opening day of the 2026/27 campaign.
Smallwood moved to the Gas on loan from Tranmere Rovers in January, and after a positive spell last term, returned in the summer on a one-year contract.
The midfielder has started the last two Sky Bet League Two fixtures, with the Gas collecting back-to-back 2-0 triumphs. Speaking to the media before the fixture against Rotherham, he said that he is feeling fitter after getting more minutes in the bank and that it was an easy decision to come back to the Gas.
START OF THE SEASON
"It's been a very good week. Obviously, very positive and three good results now. Very positive. We have had brilliant performances and started the clean sheet ball rolling, so that's positive for the whole team.
"It didn't take us long. The first game didn't go to plan. Obviously, since then we've played the way that we've played, and that's the only way we can play and the only way we will play from now on. We'll certainly try our best, and we know what that can do. Obviously, we've seen the last three results.
"I think it took me a while to get fit, but now I'm feeling a lot better. Plenty of minutes in the bank, and hopefully I can keep pushing on."
DECISION TO COME BACK TO ROVERS
"I had a difficult season last season leading up to January, and things weren't going well. I wasn't playing well, and I decided to come here for a little fresh change. Knowing the manager, knowing the style of play, I felt that would be beneficial for me, and it turned out that way. I put the hard work in, put the performances on the pitch, and was fortunate enough to be asked to stay. So, it was a no-brainer once the offer was there."
BRINGING EXPERIENCE TO THE SQUAD
"I know what the manager wants, I know how he plays, and I'll keep doing the right things on and off the field and on the training pitch. Hopefully the lads can take a lead from that, and we can keep putting in performances like the last two games, which have been pretty exceptional."
ROTHERHAM PREVIEW
"To be honest, I've not really taken note of them. It's a pretty different team since I was there, different style, been a lot of changes of late. They've not really got the right formula the last couple of seasons, I don't think, in terms of players and how I used to see the club. I think they've always tried to change things, but I see Rotherham as a hard-working outfit, and I'm sure they'll be doing that and trying to add quality along the way. To be honest, I've not seen much from this season.
"I don't know much about the team, I don't know much about the manager, so I'm expecting a tough game, nonetheless. It's Rotherham Football Club at the end of the day, and they're striving for big things. They've got a good record out of this league and League One, and they want to be getting out of it. But they know coming here will be a tough game for them, and we'll have to bring our best to get anything out of it.
"We're under no illusions — we're very good at home, and we'll be bringing the heat. Just hope this home run continues. Looking forward to it. It'll be a good game, good atmosphere, good crowd, and we'll be there to give them something to cheer about.
"I had a good time there. My first move away from my hometown club, and I really enjoyed my time there, obviously with the gaffer there at the time. He really gave me a platform to go and express myself and make my way in the game. I really enjoyed my time there.
"I think the training ground has improved a bit since back then. But really good facilities, the stadium's a great place to play, the fans are brilliant, and the memories and experiences are ones I can only be fond of. It’s just really exciting to get to play them again and hopefully get back there in the New York Stadium later this season."
TOP OF THE LEAGUE
"It's not important at this stage of the season. It's just taking one game at a time. It's easy to get too excited or too low. It's important not to get too low. You've got to find a balance, and that comes with experience and know-how. I wasn't too low after the first game because I knew it was going to be a long season. A lot of changes can happen.
"The team for that game wasn't going to be the team for the next 45 games. The team now won't be the team at the end of the season. It's going to take a group effort, taking it game by game and day by day. What's gone is gone. We can't change anything. We can look to the next game and keep striving for three points."
CLEAN SHEETS
"We've tried to work hard and be defensively solid in all the games. Sometimes that doesn't come off, sometimes it does. But I think once you get that first clean sheet, it breeds confidence; it breeds togetherness. Once you get your first one, you know you can do it, you know how to be solid, you know you'll be defending together, you know you'll help your team. I think it just breeds a bit of a snowball effect.
"It's a bit like winning games — once you get on a roll, it's very hard to stop. If you can do that with clean sheets, it's a great recipe for success, so that's what we're going to try and do."
CONNECTION WITH CLINTON MOLA
"I think me and Clinton are just pretty similar, pretty simple, but pretty effective at the same time. We bounce off each other, like to help each other out, try to be there for each other, and try not to get too far apart. That can be a solid base with the lads behind us, letting the lads have a bit of freedom going forward. You can see that in our style of play, and it's one we both probably enjoy."
