Bristol Rovers boss John Ward sets sights on further improvement
Bristol Rovers boss John Ward has told his rapidly-improving players that claiming a place in the top half of the League Two table should be their next realistic target.
Rovers entertain Rochdale at the Memorial Stadium this weekend on the back of an impressive run of form that has moved the side to within touching distance of guaranteed safety.
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Bristol Rovers boss John Ward
Ward, however, says that the players must work hard to maintain their current form and when asked if moving into the safety of mid-table over the next couple of weeks is a realistic ambition, he replied: “I think it is.”
He added: “We are within touching distance of the three or four teams above us and catching them now has to be the next aim.
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“If we can do that over the next couple of games we can look again and see whether we can push on that little bit further again.
“The players have done very well, but I will keep saying to them and everyone else that I don’t want it to stop there.
“We have games left to complete and we need to try and finish as high up the table as we can. We have probably improved things beyond expectations since I arrived, but we have to maintain that.”
Rovers will pass the 50-point mark if they manage to equal their best run of home form for three-and-a-half years by securing what would be a fourth successive victory at the Memorial Stadium tomorrow.
“We have been playing well at home lately,” said Ward. “When you win games there is a change in that people will come with a greater expectancy.
“The players have done very well to deal with that so far and they and the crowd are very much together. I have to admit that 50 points looked a long way off when we were on our way to Aldershot with a threadbare squad on Boxing Day.
“If you told me that we would be where we are by this stage, I don’t think I would have been even close to believing it.”
Keith Hill’s Rochdale, however, could climb above Rovers if they were to claim what would be a seventh away victory of the campaign and Ward said: “I think they have restructured their football club recently and have a good management team on board.
“They are in good hands and I know that they will be organised and hard to beat, so we will have to be patient with our football to get the result we want.”
Rovers are likely to be without midfielder Oliver Norburn (ankle), but Mark McChrystal is expected to return after missing Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory over Port Vale.
Defender Clayton McDonald is also available again, but both Joe Anyinsah and Fabian Broghammer are struggling with hamstring complaints.
Ward, meanwhile, has invited highly-rated Yate Town striker Scott Wilson to train with the club next week as he sets about the task of making plans for next season.
A number of players are also out of contract in the summer and Ward said: “We have to plan ahead and we have to plan positively.
“I sat down with the chairman (Nick Higgs) and (finance director) Toni Watola last week and there are conversations going on all the time.
He added: “We are going to have a little look at Scott. He’s on our doorstep and we have the opportunity to do it. We’ve had good reports on him so we’ll take the chance to see how he does in comparison to the boys we have here at the moment.”
10 Comments
by GasDownUnder
Monday, March 18 2013, 10:51AM
“Ashton_Yate
I have every right to comment on any thing that I want, I make no excuse for bettering the life of my family by emigrating with my job. I left the UK in 2005 having spent half a century (paying taxes and still supporting England in every sport) in the UK. I used to go to school at St Marys the school behind the White Lion and my dad is buried in St Marys cemetry so dont ******* preach to me about moral fibre. I also used to drink at the Swan, the Four Seasons/The Rodney/The Railway/ and finish off in Sodbury highstreet at the Squire or the Boot. I might even know your parents. Anyway see you in L1
UTG”
by ashton_yate
Sunday, March 17 2013, 2:42AM
“GDU - what right have you got to comment on anything in bristol/england ? you gave that up when you ditched this country and bailed . my mum and dad were hard working,tax paying, proud english patriots, who supported england, football , rugby, crickett,athletics etc ,and city are our club. if you had any moral fibre /substance, you should be ashamed ! i live by the shopping centre, and drink in the white lion if you fancy a pint ? my dad is from bs3, so that is where i was taken as a kid ,south bristol has always felt like home to me, and god willing i can get away from this godforsaken hole that is southglos and return home !”
by Iaintno82er
Saturday, March 16 2013, 6:47AM
“@Trashton-state, fourth not "forth".”
by GasDownUnder
Saturday, March 16 2013, 4:58AM
“ashton_yate
I am going to stoop to your level - no I'm not.
Having lived in Yate for 20 years Im interested to hear where you actually live. South of Chipp Sodbury high street was always Gas turf and the also rans were supported North. Guess your mum and dad must be travellers then.
UTG - ex Cranleigh Court Road inhabitant”
by ashton_yate
Friday, March 15 2013, 10:01PM
“oh my god ! the sheer excitement of life in the forth division ! those were the days ! yaaaaaaaaawn ! in fact every time you change homes, you really start again,so how old are you ? you have never gone bust yet true, but thats down to having no ambition, and knowing your place in the scheme of things, 100 yrs from now you will not have gone bust, but you will still be in the forth/fifth division, you lot are happy to put up with any old ++++ !”
by GasDownUnder
Friday, March 15 2013, 8:56AM
“Taking into account the **** start we made at the begining of this season, a mid table finish should be considered as a success. To those who thought promotion was a certainty then take heart in the rejuvenation of our club. All the signs are there that as long as we keep going in the right direction then next season could be ours. The season after that derbies to look forward to unless City do the double drop.
UTG”
by BlackBeardGas
Thursday, March 14 2013, 6:43PM
“Totally agree Iaintno82er..Slightly further back to Paul Randall and Archie Stevens in the 80's (City were 3 years old at the time). When John Ward took us to Wembley against Huddersfield in the 90's(City nearly teenagers then), over half the squad that Day had Rovers connections, so he has done this before successfully. How long have we craved local talent with Rovers running through their veins... Fantastic. As has been mentioned before, everyone together!! UTG”
by Iaintno82er
Thursday, March 14 2013, 5:38PM
“Nice to see comments and proactive attitude towards local potential talent, it is something that all good Rovers teams of the past have had, also it's that sort of squad investment that instills passion on the terraces and within the team, think Penrice Holloway etc.
The future looks bright UTG!”
by manchestergas
Thursday, March 14 2013, 1:17PM
“it is mathematically possible to go 12th on Sat if all results go for us.
However, a more realistic chance will hopefully come in say the next 4 games.
Then hopefully we can got for a top 10 finish and build for next year. We already saw lots of youth team players on the pitch on Tues night, and i hope more can be given some expeience as this season ends.”
by ARBIE0489
Thursday, March 14 2013, 12:44PM
“John Ward has obviously already done a magnificent job, in moulding the squad of players at the club, into producing a team on the pitch, hard to beat. Two more wins will guarantee safety, but I agree, that achieving a position in the top half of Division 2 this season, MUST be the target for the whole club. All are united again now, Board, Management, Players and Supporters and are all pulling together, which was JW's wish from the moment he returned to BRFC.
UP THE GAS......C'MON YOU GASHEADS...GET TO THE MEM TOMORROW VERSUS ROCHDALE.”