Steve Evans is aiming for Bristol Rovers to finish Saturday at the top of the Sky Bet League Two table, with a win over Rotherham United enough to guarantee their place at the summit.
The Pirates moved to first position on Tuesday night, with a win over Colchester United and other results going their way, seeing them move onto nine points, one above Barnet, Walsall and Crewe Alexandra.
The Gas have won their previous three matches against Newport County, Crawley Town and the U's and are now searching for their tenth straight home league victory, a joint club record.
Speaking to the media before the contest, Evans reflected on the start of the season before previewing the upcoming match against the Millers.
START OF THE SEASON
"We've gone from the bottom of the league to the top of the league in two or three games. So yeah, listen, positioning in the table doesn't really matter at this stage. It's easy to say when you're sitting up there, but the reality is you'd rather be posted there than anywhere else. That's come on the back of three really good performances. Improvements are needed in a lot of areas, but overall we're delighted with those league games."
PROMISE OMOCHERE DEPARTS
"I can remember the special goal at Tranmere at the back end of last season, probably goal of the year. But listen, the kid's had a difficult time with different injuries — one major one, but other ones just niggly ones. He's worked so hard in the summer, and he's worked so hard with the physio afterwards in the little injury situation.
"In pre-season he got himself really fit. He's ready to play. The important thing for him as an individual, as a person, was to get some minutes on the pitch in football. The reality at the minute is we had four or five in front of him, and the opportunity came from Southend. I know first-hand that Southend is a really good club and a tough place to go. So, we want him to go there and do really well. He's worked hard, and he's fit, and he's ready."
"He's been desperate to play after getting himself fit. Here comes his opportunity. We won't be getting involved with daily phone calls to him, but we'll be speaking to him every week or two and making sure he's happy with his progress because he's still, at the end of the day, a Bristol Rovers player."
TEAM NEWS
"Kofi’s doubtful at this stage. There are two or three within the group that are doubtful. Ciaran Kelly took a bad knock as well. Shaq Forde has struggled a bit this week. We'll see how those three are, but we'll make a judgment call on that tomorrow. Again, no spilt milk. We've got good players waiting to come in. We had a bit of a practice match this morning. Alfie Kilgour stood up today, and other players stood up. Jack Aitchison stood up. So, we've got some really good options.
"Keenan Gough is not ready. If he was a more experienced older player, he'd be involved Saturday, wouldn't he? But we're just not convinced he's 100 per cent yet. We'll be patient."
ROTHERHAM PREVIEW
"I think the first years I had at Rotherham were really special. You move into a new stadium, the New York Stadium, which is magnificent, and you have back to back promotions. You go to the Championship with a win at Wembley. It just doesn't get better than that. I lived in the town as I do here. I've used the phrase once a Miller, always a Miller, and I have a love for that Club inside me.
"But that's where it stops. My job on Saturday, as every time I've come against Rotherham, is to try and beat them. My girlfriend, my love of my life, is Bristol Rovers. I've not won enough games to speak in the same terms as what I did at Rotherham, but that's the objective. The second spell at Rotherham was disappointing. I never delivered on the objective, and I took full responsibility.
"You can't have better people coming to your football club than ex-England manager Steve McClaren, and Alex Bruce in his own right; forget the fact that his father is Steve Bruce. Alex is a gifted young man who I think will do well in the game. They've made some really good additions. You can see that in the results: comfortably beat Chesterfield — I know they scored late to win, but they should have been out of sight at one point — and got a point at Tranmere, who have had a good start to the season. So they'll come here in fine fettle."
TOP OF THE LEAGUE
"Our objective when we left the dressing room on Tuesday night was to be top on Saturday night. That's what happens when you're at the end of the table. It doesn't matter where you are — your objective should always be to improve.
"We can't jump higher than first, but we can remain in first. Let's not forget, we only jumped into first very late in the day when there was an equaliser elsewhere in the Walsall–Crewe game. From our point of view, we just have to stay focused and deal with what's in front of us on Saturday. What we do know is that if we get three points, we'll be top of the league on Saturday night, and that was the objective on Tuesday."
