New Bristol Rovers assistant head coach Rhys Carr has exclaimed that the Gas coaching staff are “pleased” with how their players are progressing while insisting that there is still plenty of room for improvement.
The Pirates made it three wins from four pre-season friendlies on Saturday afternoon, coming from behind to beat National League side Yeovil Town 2-1 at Huish Park.
Rovers conceded from a corner midway through the first half before Kofi Shaw netted an equaliser early into the second half with a lovely strike against his former loan side. The teenager then produced the cross to set up Luke Thomas for what proved to be the winning goal.
It is now less than a fortnight until the League Two season kicks off and, on where Rovers are currently at in their preparations, Carr declared to Bristol Live: “We still want to be better, but we’ll probably be saying that to you in November, in December, in January, because there’s always ways to get better. We’re pleased with how we’re getting along. We’re getting minutes in legs for sure. You can see that.
“There’s more boys that are ticking off more than 90 minutes now, more of them getting that kind of robustness in them, if you like, but you know, they’re professional. They came back in good shape, so we can really get to work with them technically, tactically and physically quite early, and yeah, they’ve come along alright.
“Pleased, number one to win the game, because that’s why we want to compete in any game of football,” the assistant head coach added to BBC Radio Bristol. “We want to win whether it’s a pre-season friendly or not. There’ll be certainly bits that we want take out and be better at for sure, like in any game of football, but there’s also bits to be pleased with as well.
“The reaction of the lads to go down away from home and to end up winning is certainly pleasing but there are also elements we want to be better at. We’ll do that as individuals, we’ll do it as units, we’ll do it as collectives as well and keep trying to improve every game we play.”
Rovers largely named a completely different starting line up to the team that started the 1-0 win over Bath City on Wednesday evening with Bryant Bilongo the only surviving fixture.
There were concerns pre-match regarding the absences of goalkeeper Luke Southwood and right-back Macauley Southam-Hales while Clinton Mola hasn’t featured in pre-season yet with a suspected hand injury. Additionally midfielder Ryan Howley had to come off injured having come on as a substitute.
On the absences, Carr confirmed they weren’t anything to be worried about, explaining to Bristol Live: “We want to get all the players to the best physical condition we can for August 2, so if that means now and again…Joel Senior got 90 minutes in today and it’s been a long time since he had 90 minutes, so that’s been balanced off with Macauley not being here.
“So they all have individualised programs, even though we’re a team and it is to make sure that they’re in the best possible shape come kick-off of the season, so that’s the reason for that.”
On Howley, Carr added: “He just felt a little bit of tightness, so we wanted to be careful with him. So I’ve just spoken to him there in the dressing room. He feels all right, but, you know, with that awareness of something just muscular there, we just wanted to protect him a little.
“He’s done well. He’s come into the group as a new player in the group. I know Ryan from previous as well, so I know the qualities that he’s got. So we want to make sure that we keep him available.”
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