Players are hungry to end horror run, says Bristol Rovers boss Trollope
The Pirates are desperate to halt the alarming run of six consecutive defeats which not only spelled an early end to their FA Cup campaign, but has also seen them take just one point from the last 18 in League One.
"We are far from happy with the last six games and there are a lot of defensive issues that have been very poor," admitted Trollope, whose side have conceded 18 times during their run of reverses.
"We have worked hard to address those and the players have shown a willingness to listen and take things on board because they want to succeed as well.
"The spirit and the atmosphere is good, there is a hunger to put things right – and hopefully that will start on Saturday."
Trollope is expected to make changes at the Memorial Stadium with goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen and striker Chris Dickson available again, and central defender Danny Coles expected to return after missing four of the last six games through illness and injury.
"Mikkel and Chris are fresh and ready to go after an enforced break. Danny has been back in training since Monday as well and will be available," said Trollope.
"Darryl Duffy tweaked his knee at the end of Tuesday's training session and will be touch and go, although we are hoping he's going to be fit."
Trollope has to decide whether to retain the 4-5-1 system Rovers have used for the last few outings.
"We have tweaked the system in recent weeks – some of it was forced upon us, some of it was by choice – but we will look at all the options," he said.
"And having players back means those options are increased."
The current run is the first time Bristol Rovers have suffered six back-to-back defeats since the 1960s. They lost eight league games in a row under Ray Graydon in 2003, but that sequence was interspersed by a win and two draws in the FA Cup.
"We know the run of form we have been on is not good enough," said Trollope.
"When you don't win football matches, there is always going to be pressure. But it's a pressure I quite enjoy because it's a challenge for me.
"We have been on bad runs before but have turned things around with consistent and professional management and coaching, and that's the aim this time.
"When things go against you, it's easy to let heads drop.
"But even after six or seven minutes of madness against Southampton, there was a spirit there to get back into the game. Despite the setbacks we've had, the players still have a very positive mentality – and that's what we need to turn things around."
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