Steve Evans praised the Gasheads for their incredible support ahead of Bristol Rovers' home clash against Crawley Town in Sky Bet League Two.
The Pirates have been in incredible form in the fourth tier and have won five straight matches for the first time in over a decade. The Gas beat Harrogate Town away in a five-goal thriller in their last outing, twice coming from behind before Ellis Harrison converted a penalty to secure all three points.
Rovers now return to The Mem for their penultimate home fixture of the season. The Gas have won seven of their last eight matches on their own patch, with the Gasheads playing a massive part in their success.
Speaking to the media before the contest, Evans previewed the upcoming game against his former side. He also talked about team news and his connection with the fans.
INTEGRITY
“We have to prepare and have the same integrity that we demonstrated in the second half against Harrogate for Crawley on Saturday because as we know, them and the following weekend we're at Tranmere, both clubs are fighting for their EFL survival and it’s important that both of those managers know that they’re getting the same Bristol Rovers type of performance that we displayed at Harrogate.
“We demonstrated that [changing the team] against Harrogate with some players that hadn’t been on the pitch for a little while. The midfield three was different with Ryan de Havilland, Kane Thompson-Sommers and Josh McEachran, who was back from injury. There were different players in different positions, but we’ll always try and field a team or make changes at appropriate times to win a football match.”
TEAM NEWS
“Promise Omochere has trained today [Thursday]. He’s not the saviour, but he’s a very important player for us. One thing I can promise our supporters is that he’s trying really, really hard to get himself back available for selection, and he was really good in training this morning.
“I believe that Promise will be a big player for the Football Club with a good pre-season program behind him. So, from that point of view, I think it is important that we get him on the pitch for some minutes in the next four games. Saturday might be a little bit early, but he’ll certainly be in the matchday squad. Whether he makes the 18 depends on how well he trains.”
"Macauley Southam-Hales is in training. The signs are positive. He's been out for a long time now, and we would love to get him on the pitch, maybe in the last two games or part of those last two games. He's another lad that we think highly of, and he was a big signing for the Football Club.
"Richie Smallwood and Jack Sparkes will be in the squad."
THE CONNECTION WITH THE CLUB AND THE GASHEADS
"The fans have surprised me. I remember coming out, and we hadn't won for three, four or five games, and we were still coming out to big crowds for League Two. The noise and the levels of support at the end of those games, even if we had lost, were fantastic.
"I would never say that I'm never surprised, but I was in the last two or three home games, and then we go to Harrogate on the bank holiday Monday, and we bring 800 supporters when we're mathematically safe. It's just an incredible reaction. So, thank you to everyone for your support, as you've been incredibly supportive of my family and me.
SECOND HALF PERFORMANCES
"I think what we've really wanted to do in our short time was create an inner desire within the group, and they have to have the ingredients to win football matches. It's not always been right. We accept that. Statistics tell you that we've been a better second-half team, but the objective is to start like that as well."
CRAWLEY TOWN PREVIEW
"Crawley means the world. Paul Raynor and I had three and a half years and worked incredibly hard to have some magical days. We got to the fifth round of the FA Cup twice, once as a non-league club and once as a league club. We went to Old Trafford and brought 8,000. We shouldn't have lost, but we lost 1-0.
"We won the National League by a landslide and took them to the verge of League One before I departed for Rotherham. So, it means the world, but we'll have integrity and the way we like to approach games. We'll be trying our level best to get the three points."
