Rovers must deal with different sort of pressure against Dale, says Ward
Bristol Rovers boss John Ward is preparing his team for a different kind of pressure when they take on Rochdale at the Memorial Stadium today.
Rovers have risen from the bottom to 15th in League Two on the back of some impressive results against teams in and around the top seven since Ward took over.
Today, though, they face a side two points and two places below them in the table and will be expected to win against Keith Hill's side.
Former Barnsley manager Hill may well stoke up the air of expectancy at the Memorial Stadium after admitting how impressed he has been by most of their results since the turn of the year and tipping them for a strong promotion challenge next season.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013
Hill said: "It's no surprise that John Ward has gone in there and turned their fortunes around when you look at the squad of players that has been recruited.
"They're in great form now and they'll be promotion favourites next season. They've got a League One budget playing in League Two."
At this point, Ward will just be happy to manage expectations for today's game and build on Tuesday's 2-0 win against third-placed Port Vale. The victory saw Rovers collect their 30th point since Ward succeeded Mark McGhee 16 games ago.
Ward said: "We have got to be mentally correct for this game, nothing less than what we have been doing will be accepted.
"There are the same things at stake, there are three points if we can win, and we can move up the table. That is what we have got to try and do.
"We will expect a good football match, but a tough one for us – and we want to make it a tough one for them too.
"Keith Hill has been there before, and he fits there. He has a way that he likes to play, he likes to pass and play, and he has done very well there."
Rovers will be without Oliver Norburn, who suffered an ankle injury during the Vale game, but Ward will be boosted by the return of Mark McChrystal.
The manager added: "Ollie Norburn will not be right and, at this stage, we will be pushing it to have him ready for Bradford next week, so that is quite unpleasant.
"We seem to be paying a price of a player a game at the moment, which is something that depletes the squad, but maybe at the same time it strengthens the resolve of the rest of the guys.
"We had two young guys making early representations at first-team level coming on, so everyone who is available is pulling in the same direction.
"Joe Anyinsah and Fabian Broghammer are slowly coming on, but will not be ready. Mark McChrystal should be available though.
"Obviously, Clayton McDonald is available, we had a gentleman's agreement with Port Vale that we wouldn't use him on the night."
Ward was pleased that his team's two goals came from set pieces on Tuesday. He said: "It was a massive amount of hard work against a good team.
"They took us a little bit by surprise the way they played, so we had to adjust to that, but the pleasing thing was that we got two goals of set plays.
"In a tight game it can make such a difference if you can get your free-kicks and corners right – and we finished off the goals and won the game by doing that.
"It seems that the Memorial Stadium is becoming a bit of a fortress. Top teams have come here and the mood has been good both on and off the pitch."
Jim Paterson made his first start since Boxing Day during Tuesday night's victory over Port Vale.
He said: "Since John Ward has come in there has been an increasing feeling around the changing room that we can win every game we play in. With that, confidence has started to come back."
Comments