Clinton Mola admitted the Bristol Rovers dressing room was gutted after the Gas lost 2-1 to Fleetwood Town in their second fixture of the season in Sky Bet League Two.
Despite a positive start from the Pirates, the match quickly slipped away from them after a quick first-half brace from Will Davies gave Fleetwood all of the control in the fixture. Rovers were better after the break, with Darrell Clarke adding extra attackers to the mix. However, the Gas could not level the contest, with Promise Omochere's converted penalty proving to be a consolation.
It was a disappointing afternoon for Rovers, who suffered their second consecutive loss in the fourth tier after falling to a 1-0 defeat to Harrogate Town on the opening day of the 2025/26 campaign.
Speaking to BRTV after the game, Mola could not hide his disappointment and was left frustrated with the goals his team conceded.
"We’re gutted," he said. "We’re not happy about this at all. It’s two on the bounce now, and in the second half, we were better, but the first two goals were easy goals to concede. We got back in it, and then we couldn’t find an equaliser in the end.
The Pirates looked promising straight from the start of the second half, with Clarke bringing Ruel Sotiriou off the bench to put the Fishermen off the bench before the further additions of Luke Thomas and Ellis Harrison.
Momentum flipped in Rovers' favour, with the visitors enjoying the majority of the chances and possession in advanced areas. Harrison and Sotiriou had half-chances before Omochere slotted in his spot-kick after being brought down in the box.
Speaking about the second 45 minutes, Mola praised the Gas' improved performance, but confessed that conceding two goals before the interval gave his side a mountain to climb.
"The gaffer changed shape," said Mola. "The boys responded well, and then we got back in it. We were on top of them in the second half, we got one with a penalty, and we just couldn’t get the second one.
"When you go two goals down, it’s always hard to come back from, and it’s a big hurdle to come back from."
He later added: "Football is a game of momentum, and once we got that, we were on top and then we were just pushing and pushing them. It’s a loss at the end of the day."
Mola has started both Sky Bet League Two games on the left side of three centre-backs after missing all of Rovers' pre-season fixtures through injury.
Trusted immediately by Clarke after returning to fitness in time for the new campaign, Mola is pleased to be in the team and wants to quickly turn all attention to Rovers' upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Cambridge United.
"It’s good to be back in the mix, said the defender. "Obviously, I’ve just come back from surgery on my wrist and I’ve kind of had a staggered pre-season and training, by my own, but I feel fit. I’m ready for the gaffer to throw me in, and it’s time to start getting points, but we move on to Tuesday. That’s the next game, and that’s all I can think about.
"It’s a cup game, so it’s not the league, but that is the game that’s next, and if we can pick up a win, that will obviously give us momentum for the next league game. We’re just focused on Tuesday for now."
