With the Gas’ seventh consecutive Sky Bet League Two win for the first time since 1953, Riley Harbottle is happy with Rovers’ current run of form.
With Tranmere Rovers putting on a dominant display over the Pirates, neither side could break the deadlock in the first half. Shaq Forde and Tommy Leigh were not able to find the opener, and neither could Omari Patrick and Kaiyne Woolery.
It was two second-half substitutes that proved to be the difference, with Promise Omochere firing the ball into the top right corner. The hosts were quick to equalise, with Jayden Joseph’s effort, but Yusuf Akhamrich’s calm response into the bottom left corner sealed a seventh victory for the Gas.
Speaking to BRTV after the tough battle, acting-Captain Riley Harbottle was proud the entire squad and how hard they’ve worked.
Riley well played. Some scenes at the end there, I guess, celebrations at this seventh successive win. What a run you’re on.
“It’s a great run we’re on. I think we’re working so hard in the week and we’re working so hard together. There were tough times at the start of the season, but we’re giving the fans something to cheer about. Definitely.”
As a squad, all of the coaching staff, you all went up to those fans at the end and the celebrations were pretty special, weren’t they?
“They were incredible. Incredible fans. Like I say, they’ve had some bad times over years, so we were just trying to repay them.
“We were giving our shirts away, and stuff like that, to the fans it was a little thing to repay them.”
Alfie’s out, you’re captaining again. Is that something that you’ve enjoyed?
“Yeah, I’ve loved every minute. The group is an easy group to captain. All great lads. It could be anyone out there and I’m just happy the Gaffer has given me the responsibility to step up and take that.”
Let’s talk about the goals today, if we can. Promise comes on, five minutes being on the pitch. What a strike it was.
“Prom has been working hard. He’s been running me ragged all week to be honest, but I’m delighted for him.
“He’s been waiting for his opportunity, he’s had a tough time with injuries, but Promise’s quality is way beyond this level. He’s an incredible lad and an incredible footballer, so I’m delighted for him.”
Have you got a sense of how difficult it has been for him? I’m sure you’ve seen him in the treatment room and in training being unable to join. It’s been a tough few months for him, hasn’t it?
“It has! People think football is easy, they don’t see the dark side of the game. The things off the pitch, the mental side of it, and it probably has taken a knock on Prom, but when he comes back and performs like that, he’s a credit to himself.
“He’s worked so hard. I think he came and celebrated with Gav, the physio and things like that. It means so much, and we’re all there with him. So, I’m proud of him. He did really well today.”
When you bring someone of that much quality like Yusuf Akhamrich, off the bench, he wins the game for you with another great goal.
“He’s a special talent. I think you look at all of the bench, any one of them could have started today. What we have here is frightening, to be honest with you.
“So, the quality of Yusuf’s did really well for the goal and I’m really happy for him.”
Seven in a row, two left. You’re going to want to make it eight and then nine, won’t you?
“A hundred percent. I think we want to finish the season strong; we can go eight or nine and finish the season with nine on the bounce.
“We can take that into next season. Hopefully it’ll be a successful one.”
You’ll be focused on those two games of course, but the manager has already started to talk about next season. You know he’s here, he’s signed his deal last week, of course. It must be great for the squad to know you’re heading in the right direction ahead of next season.
“I don’t think he’s letting us know that. He’s making sure that we’re at it every single day and if we’re not, he’ll definitely have us running.
“We want to win every game and he’s making sure that if things weren’t right today, I would have imagined he would have changed it like he has in previous games. We’ve been working hard.”
