Home form is now Bristol Rovers' priority admits McGhee

BRISTOL Rovers boss Mark McGhee has told his rejuvenated players to forget about their exploits at Exeter on Saturday and instead focus on 'delivering' in front of their own supporters for the time this season.

The Pirates secured their first victory of the campaign with a 2-1 success at St James' Park on Saturday and are now targeting a first home win of the season when Cheltenham provide the opposition at the Memorial Stadium this evening (7.45pm).

"It was a relief to get our first win and it always helps to create a better atmosphere around the place for a few days," said McGhee.

"It's important, however, that we move on quickly from it and focus on our next challenge, which is to win our first home game.

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"We have been disappointing in some of the home games so far, particularly those against Oxford and Morecambe, but what we achieved at Exeter on Saturday means that a lot of our fans will be coming to the Memorial Stadium expecting a result.

"It is up to us to try to deliver that now and also go some way towards refreshing the optimism that some felt at the start of the season."

McGhee will be without Tom Parkes (suspended) and Michael Smith, who is on compassionate leave following the death of his father.

"We'll have to have a shuffle around at the back," said McGhee. "We have set ourselves up in the last three games with a determination not to concede in mind.

"I think we have looked a lot more difficult to beat and we'll have to be the same if we are to get a result against a very good Cheltenham side."

Recent signing Derek Riordan, pictured, returned to Scotland, after his debut on Saturday, because his partner is due to give birth in the next few days.

However, he was flying back to Bristol last night and is expected to start the game.

"I usually wouldn't consider a player who hasn't trained with us," McGhee admitted.

"But Derek is a bit of a special case in that he is almost street player, who can create something from nothing, even if he does little else over the 90 minutes."

Chris Zebroski, meanwhile, returns to the Memorial Stadium for the first time since moving to Cheltenham over the summer.

The 25-year-old scored three goals in 31 appearances for Rovers last season after following former boss Paul Buckle from Torquay, and he said: "It was a good move for me at the time, but for whatever reason it didn't quite work out.

"I had a good time and learned a lot about myself as a person and it made me a stronger person today. Mark McGhee helped me because he scored a lot of goals in his career, so I owe him a lot.

"It was one of the first games I looked for on the fixture list and I am looking forward to it. Cheltenham won 3-1 there last season so that will be in the back of Rovers' minds.

"We have to go there and frustrate them. The fans will get on their back and it can work to our advantage. We are unbeaten away from home and we want to keep that going."