After a brilliant brace at last Saturday’s fixture against Newport County, Luke Thomas is looking to try and replicate his successes in the Gas’ Saturday fixture against Barrow.
Thomas has scored 12 goals in 127 appearances in all competitions for Rovers across his two spells at the Club, but his two strikes against the Exiles was the first time he has ever scored a brace.
The winger reacted quickly in Newport's box to make the most of Fabrizio Cavegn's rebounded effort to scramble in the opener before doubling his tally moments later, making the most of Nik Tzanev's poor pass to smash in his second.
After plenty of work during the summer break, Thomas is ready to kick on from his stellar display against Newport and is looking to repeat his performance.
“The squad’s been in a really good place at the moment," he said. "Obviously, at the start of the season, it wasn’t how we wanted to start, but we didn’t get too down about it. We knew we had to work hard and get better at the training ground, and like you’ve said, the last four weeks have been good to us.
“I’m really happy that I scored two in the last game. It’s the first time I’ve ever done that, so I’m buzzing with that, but that’s gone now, so all eyes are on Barrow, and I’ll see if I can repeat it.”
Despite three losses at the start of the season, the Pirates have kept several clean sheets and are unbeaten in their last four, winning their previous three in the fourth tier. Thomas was at the heart of the victory with his two goals and took plenty of confidence from his first strike, with the winger looking to add more goals to his game.
“Obviously, the confidence gave me the first one, just make sure we take a good touch, and I wasn’t thinking of passing or shooting, I was thinking just hit the target here, and it can go in. Luckily, it went into the back of the net.
“I’m getting a little bit older now, I’m 26, so I think that’s always been a fault in my game. Not being able to finish it, and getting there isn’t really the issue, it’s just finishing it, and hopefully this season I can show a bit more maturity and composure in front of the goal and really crack on.”
He added, “I think the coaches have really helped me. Obviously, very beneficial to me; it’s really helped me this season as I’ve been doing different goals, and I’m a second player. I feel like I can create stuff, and hopefully this season I can be a bit more mature in front of the goal and get lots of goals.”
Since returning to the Pirates in May, Darrell Clarke has made changes to Gas. Clarke last managed the Gas between 2014 and 2018, leading Rovers to back-to-back promotions. Adding fourteen new players, as well as his own staff, Thomas praised the impact Clarke has had on him and the Club overall.
“He’s been brilliant. From day one of pre-season, to be fair. He gave me the confidence I needed, like I said, he spoke to me every day, whether that’s on the training pitch or one-to-one. He’s been brilliant for me, and hopefully I can continue to be there.
“Obviously, what he’s done with the Club before, I think that instantly got the fans on our side. Like I say, we know what he’s capable of, so good things are certainly on the up.”
The Gas will be playing at The Mem against Barrow, having won 1-0 the last time they played the Bluebirds in March 2022. Looking forward to the fixture, Thomas is excited to play in front of the Gasheads again.
“Last week’s gone now, and the weeks before that have gone now, so it’s a really tough game against Barrow," said Thomas. "We need to nullify them in what they’re good at and make sure we’re all in it ourselves to get the best possible outcome.
“I think we’ve seen it in the last couple of weeks; it’s gotten louder and louder. I still think we obviously need to put on better performances each week, and hopefully, it can keep getting louder and louder. The more support we get, the more it can only benefit us.”
Having come back from last season’s result stronger, Luke Thomas spoke about how he prepared for the new campaign and how much he has improved since then, having scored two goals already.
“I’ve just really worked hard this summer," he said. "Like I’ve said, I’m going into the last year of my contract, so that shouldn’t be an excuse, but it’s a really big year for me. I’m getting older, so I’m working really hard.
“In the holidays, I was working really hard and I actually got a coach I was working with, one-to-one sessions on a regular basis, so I found that’s really helped me in this early part of the season.
“I feel a lot sharper. I feel like I can move a lot better. Like I’ve said, I can get around the pitch now. I was in at the back post on Saturday, and I wasn’t doing that last season, so there’s definitely a difference.”
Alongside Clarke, plenty of new signings joined the Pirates, most recently Alfie Chang, Freddie Issaka, Joel Cotterill and Stephan Negru on transfer Deadline Day.
“I think he’s brought in some really good characters, and we’ve seen a really exciting season, as you’ve seen in the games. We’re really working for each other, so long may that continue.”
