Gas Boss Paul Trollope On Tomorrow

Last updated : 15 April 2006 By Thetashkentterror
Paul Trollope
Rovers manager Paul Trollope spoke exclusively to Bristol Rovers's official website about the big game coming up tomorrow afternoon as he commented on his side's need to react well to their disappointing 1-0 home defeat to relegation-threatened Rushden and Diamonds last week :


"This is a vital game for us, and one we need to bounce back in, and we have to bounce back very quickly, as there won't be many more slip-ups available to us now. We need to be at the races and on our game, and make sure we put right some of the things that caused us to perform so badly last weekend.

"We believe we can beat them, we are confident we can beat them, but the main thing for us is not to worry about them too much, to get back to the way we like to play, and not to get sucked into another way of playing.

"Last Saturday was a real down for us, but the beautiful thing about football is that there is always a chance to bounce back. That comes about for us this weekend, and it's what I want and the lads want to show we can put things right.

"Carlisle are very good side, they've signed Michael Bridges who has been a real boost for them, and he has added that bit of quality that is perhaps better than this division. He plays in a free role for them, and will undoubtedly be a danger man. Paul Simpson, their manager, was very good as a player and it looks like now he's becoming a very good manager."



"But we're not silly, we know how big this game is for us. We realise we need a good points return over the two Easter games to keep ourselves in with a chance. If we don't get that, then we will probably slip too far away to do anything, so these two matches couldn't be more important.

"Carlisle come here in fantastic form and it should be a great game, and one that the players shouldn't need much motivating for. Since we played them at Brunton Park, they have made massive strides forward. They are a big club with a good fan base and in Paul Simpson I think they have one of the best managers in the league.

"I played with Paul many years ago and have a lot of respect for him. He was a very god player and he has become a very good manager, so it's going to be tough. We had a good result up there and I'm sure they will want to avenge that, but I think we owe our fans a real performance and we are very, very keen to do it.

"Our season is not over by a long way and it's crucial, as always, that everyone gets behind us. Last Saturday was a frustrating afternoon for everyone involved, including the fans, and we owe ourselves and them a performance."