Darrell Clarke speaks

Manager on 'four cup finals'.

Darrell Clarke knows that his team need to give 100% to win back the fans following Saturday’s disappointing performance. The manager appreciates the support the side has been given all season, but he knows his side have to give the fans reasons to come out in their numbers.
Clarke said: “This was certainly one of the worst weekends I have had in my career, that is for sure. But I cannot change the past, and it all about what we do in the future. We lost the fans on Saturday, and we deserved to lose them, however it is about pulling it all together. I have been at this football club 11 months now, and the thing that has impressed me the most has been the supporters. I think the fans are frustrated, for different reasons, going a good few years back, and those frustrations certainly spilled over on Saturday with our woeful performance. I understand the frustration, but I know they will be getting behind us for the four cup matches to go. If we are giving 100%, which should be the bare minimum for a footballer, the fans will be right behind us and stick with us. I am not going to make a plea for the supporters to come out and support us, because that is what they have done all season, it is up to us to keep them on side. They will be with us on Saturday, and we have to keep them onside by putting in a good performance.”

The trip to Fratton Park on Saturday will be a great chance for Rovers to get some pride back.
Darrell said: “We have a great game coming up against Portsmouth in front of 17-18,000 and it is paramount the boys put on a lot better performance than we did on Saturday. We need to get some pride back, and that is the reaction I will be looking for this week. We have got some strong characters in that changing room, and the ones who aren’t so strong – we need to get them going again. I have to make sure I get the tactics and the shape right for Portsmouth, that is my job, and I will make sure we have a really good week in training. Past form goes out the window, there are four games left now, and they are four cup finals. I need strong characters out on the pitch.”

Fabian Broghammer did not feature in the squad on Saturday as he experienced a reaction in his knee.
Darrell said: “Fabian has had a slight reaction in his knee, and he wont be training today, but we are hoping he will be taking part in the match tomorrow. We need to get minutes into him at the moment and training into him.”


Taken from OS.

 

Well he's right about losing the fans. It's a bloody good job some of those at the helm of the club weren't lynched on Saturday.

It's not really his fault though. As Dennis Payter says in today's Post, he was played a hospital pass by the board. Ward got us into this **** - he should have got us out of it.

We can only hope that he goes back to basics and plays it simple against Pompey. Let's also hope that the players realise that their performance on Saturday really plumbed the depths and that they have to bounce back immediately.

And isn't it ****ing typical that the Hammer is on the verge of returning and then gets a reaction in his knee. Only at Rovers.