Steve Evans is looking forward to meeting one of his former sides when Bristol Rovers welcome Peterborough United to The Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
On what will be a unique start to the campaign, the Pirates will welcome the Sky Bet League One outfit in Round One of the Carabao Cup, looking to start where they left off over three months ago.
Rovers ended the 2025/26 term with eight straight victories before a draw with promotion winners Notts County and have plenty of confidence after a successful pre-season.
Speaking to the media before the game, Evans knows that Peterborough will be a tough test and is ready for the challenge.
BRISTOL ROVERS’ TRIP TO SCOTLAND
“Oh, God's country is wonderful. There's one or two of you, sitting in front of us that sent me videos of them driving up the 18th hole in St Andrew's, as some of our players did as well. So, it was it was really good. The games were competitive, and they were good.
“The training was highly intense, it was good, the facilities outstanding, and that's what I've always said, you understand why the clubs of the level of West Ham United, Everton and Burnley and teams like that go there. It was really good for us as well, and the group got together and that was massively important.”
THE START OF THE SEASON
“Yeah, I think we're almost there. I think you can always turn the pages to ask one or two more questions, but yeah, we're almost there. You know, we've almost got the squad in place now that we sought to put together and we're juggling one or two in that area and then we'll be really good to go hopefully by the time we travel to York next Friday.
“But of course, we've got a big cup tie before then, with Peterborough at The Mem tomorrow.”
INJURIES
“[Promise] is two weeks away. A different, separate calf issue. Not as bad as we first feared after the Forest Green pre-season game. He was back on the grass yesterday, so two weeks. But yeah, the objective with Promise is quite simple - keep fit and keep playing.
“If he keeps fit and he plays a run of games, we all know what a good player is, but there's not many good players sat watching the games as they're not good players. So, he needs to get fit to play. He's trained ever so hard through the summer, and I was really down when I went home after Forest Green because I knew the boy was suffering again.
“So, let's send him our best thoughts and our best wishes and all the powers we can give them to be fit for a run of games.
“Ellis Harrison and Ryan Howley are two weeks away. Both [Bobby and Alfie] both have trained this week, so they were both were out there yesterday, so they're back out today. So, we'd expect them to be available if selected on Saturday.”
PETERBOROUGH PREVIEW
“No, listen, I think it's a good game for us. I think it'll be a good game for the Posh, I think. You know, I've been there, I know what the expectations are.
“I've read the manager's words closely this week when he said they are expected to win promotion. If you work for Darren McAnthony as the head coach or the manager, you're expected to challenge for promotion.
“We've certainly felt the difference inside the Gas here with the expectations and the words now coming from our chairman is the same. We want to be challenging at the top end of that this League, League Two.
" I addressed the players yesterday and I said if Peterborough United were kicking off next Saturday in League Two, they would be the outstanding favourites to win promotion.
“So there's the difference of League Two to League One, they would be the outstanding favourites. It wouldn't be a Salford or whatever, because a lot of those lads at Salford wouldn't get in the Posh team, for me. And it's probably the same thoughts for Luke and Darren. So, yeah, this is a real good test for us.
“This is a team that, in my opinion, finishes, normally, apart from last season, in the top ten of League One. So, this will be a challenge to see whether we can be at that kind of level. We thank Luke for these kind compliments, but as experienced as he is, water off the back.
EVANS’ ASPIRATIONS FOR THE SEASON
“Yeah, I think I think there is a saying in football, isn’t there? That winning is a habit, but losings is a habit. Winning promotion is a habit. I've got that nasty habit, I want players around me that have got that habit too.
“There's some lads in there who's not won a promotion who are deserving of winning promotions. So, we know how tough this league's going to be, but we're only really focussed on the Carabao Cup because it'd be nice to looking forward to another game in two weeks time in the competition.”
