Bristol Rovers finally managed their first win of the season with a familiar combo in control of it – Ellis Harrison converted a first half long throw to give Darrell Clarke his first victory back in the quarters.
That win means Rovers have now accrued four points for the new campaign, both coming this week with a midweek draw to Oldham kicking off the run of successive clean sheets and as such points.
A concerning start to the campaign brought up familiar feelings after a relegation campaign to forget, but Rovers have since seemed to be turning a corner.
So after notching their first points, what’s had to change to get there?
Culture Change Was The Summer Priority After Dismal Relegation For Bristol Rovers
To move away from the dismal feelings towards last season, Clarke had to mastermind a culture change around the entire club. For one, rumours of ownership interference had to be addressed right from the off and DC ensured his Gasheads that he would be the final call on all decisions.
He and Director of Football Ricky Martin went on to form what has proved to be a very efficient and well-communicating duo, especially compared to the combinations of the less experienced George Friend, and Matt Taylor and Inigo Calderon. The trio, while accepted as nice guys, all made naive mistakes as Rovers were relegated.
Alas, mistakes were made and a key objective to resolving that this summer was of course a good transfer window: plenty of money was spent last summer however and getting the most out of that would (and will) prove crucial, with the adding of leaders and a culture DC could trust similarly vital.
It can’t be ignored the cost of the drop either, and Martin particularly with his role repeated that losses couldn’t be maintained and the club had to be “player trading” throughout the window to become more sustainable, while also building a promotion chasing squad.
Though Bristol Rovers would’ve liked him to have stayed for another season, star teenager Kofi Shaw was sold to Brighton for a fee suggested to rise to the seven figure mark. Connor Taylor was later sold to Wycombe for a good figure as well, but the Gas may yet move on more than the 16 they also released at the start of the summer.
Alfie Kilgour and Ellis Harrison both raised eyebrows as recruits when Clarke brought them back to BS7: Kilgour had had an injury rampant time at Mansfield since departing Rovers in January 2023, managing just 46 games in that time; Harrison meanwhile left in 2018, but the pair have returned together to form the backbone of a leadership group DC can trust.
Club captain Kilgour has been the clear standout performer so far too. Although the points have only recently come, his displays have been commendable throughout, coming out of Cambridge’s win with a cut cheek.
Confidence is still key to Rovers’ success from here. Isaac Hutchinson often looks good off the bench but struggles to make impact games from the start – surely a confidence and rhythm factor. Shaq Forde, a main focus of criticism last season, had a sharp pre-season but has been sidelined with injury since.
Getting the most out of the attacking roster is key, considering the majority were here last season. Ruel Sotiriou joins the roster that should be relative prolific at this level, as well as new Swiss striker Fabrizio Cavegn, once he adapts to the new level of physicality.
His capture represents the owner’s willingness to use foreign markets, but something Gasheads may have noticed is the lack of use of the loan market. Whatever influence that comes from, Kacper Lopata is the sole loanee at the club – and he worked with Clarke at Barnsley.
It goes to show how important developing the culture is to DC and to Bristol Rovers – and fans will be so pleased to see they have a captain that bleeds blue (albeit sadly not literally in the picture).
Back Three King In The Summer But Yielded No League Results
Clarke insisted throughout pre-season that flexibility was key to the Gas’ success this season. Still, the summer additions of attacking wingbacks Jack Sparkes and Macauley Southam-Hales fairly decisively proved that Bristol Rovers would be using a back three.
The summer friendlies proved that, although a back four was used in the first game at Chippenham Town – raising some early questions. That use though was down to early summer availability, but the setup was utilised a few more times in moments to keep up that back-up plan.
Move to the league campaign and performances were poor. Losing to Harrogate on the opening day had too many familiar feelings of failing to score when on top, before losing momentum, conceding, and then having somewhat of a confidence capitulation.
Losses at Fleetwood and Chesterfield followed, with a pathetic performance in the EFL Cup at home to – again – Cambridge in the middle. Importantly though, Bristol Rovers looked much better against the Spireites when an iffy red card forced them to move to a back four. And indeed the formation switch had improved things when chasing in Fleetwood too.
Fans thought DC may never ditch his back three though after seemingly dropping it for the cup tie with his selection implying a back four, but ending up fielding midfielder Ryan Howley in the backline. Chesterfield a few days later was the final straw – the back four had to stay.
The only caveat was that Bristol Rovers had often (always) been chasing the game when moving to that system; as had been the case in 24/25, confidence simply seemed to increase when there was nothing to lose. As such, was it the formation or the game state that improved performances?
Hard-work And Some Tactical Tweaks Have Proved Profitable This Week
Oldham travelled to the Mem a few days again after Bristol Rovers were in Chesterfield; when the team sheet was revealed, it appeared a back four – but again Howley was there in a similar enough team to that as for Cambridge a week prior.
Alas, the back four won out and although Rovers will be kicking themselves for not converting one of their chances, fans left satisfied with the improved effort that had then spanned a game and a half since the sending off.
One of the key changes was bringing in loanee Lopata to the backline that now features none of the players from last season’s disasters (although Joel Senior, the red card casualty, had started very well following injury struggles). The Pole, who grew up locally, has formed a solid partnership with Kilgour – representing the fighting spirits Gasheads demand.
The pair are very duel dominant and have led Bristol Rovers to back-to-back shutouts. Also important to that has been the steady improvement of the midfield: Kamil Conteh has looked sharper with every minute after being absent since Boxing Day, sitting a little ahead of Josh McEachran – the 32-year-old has recent Championship experience and can be considered a bit of an unsung hero of late, controlling the game and making important tackles.
Rovers certainly had to fend off a lot of attacks from the U’s in the second half particularly, but will be very proud to have limited them to no shots on target.
Another tactical switch has been to move striker Promise Omochere out wide. It had been noted for a while by fans his continued struggles as a lone striker, or even in a pair, at winning duels again and again up against strong central defenders. There had always been suggestion he’d function better on the wing, like at Fleetwood.
And indeed the move has done him all sorts of good. Only two games into the change but the Irishman seems much happier at not having to quite so consistently battle for loose balls, allowing Harrison this weekend to press and do that.
Still, Omochere won 22 duels this weekend and often flicked on for the Welshman, importantly being able to jump at an angle rather than simply upwards when a goal kick was pumped his way. His and Luke Thomas’ performances were quite possibly their best for the club, working incredibly hard on either flank for the points.
Omochere’s switch is a change that seems to be here to stay, even if it means Harrison’s fitness and Cavegn’s inexperience may be tested in the central role.
Going Forwards…
With a week left in the window, everyone in and around the club will be wanting a few more bodies through the doors. Clarke has eluded to wanting three / four new recruits recently and you’d expect he’ll get them with business generally drying up of late.
The formation switch may put Rovers in the market for a winger or two, compared to what they may have been expecting previously. Sotiriou, Omochere, Thomas, and Forde can all play there but all struggled at points last campaign.
New confidence and a level down should help, and Thomas and Omochere showed hard work is just as important as goal scoring with two brilliant displays most recently. Sotiriou though may join Forde for a period on the sidelines, so a winger would remain a good addition – ideally a pacey profile happy to make runs in behind.
Some more midfield creativity would also be at the top of many Gasheads’ shopping list, and a true number 8 probably too – Rovers currently possessing just 10’s and 8’s. In fact assistant Jon Stead admitted recently the Oldham midfield trio was solely composed of 6’s.
All that said, fans will currently just be happy to have the first win on the board after the start bringing back memories of the back end of last campaign. Performances are on the up as DC builds the culture he wants, while a trip to Newport in a fortnight marks a date many Gasheads can look forward to.
Ellis Harrison wins it for DC’s Gas. It’s a familiar feeling – meant in a good way this time.
