Friday, 13 January 2012

Rovers Return

I will be going to the Memorial Ground tomorrow to watch Bristol Rovers for the third time in seven days having seen very little of them in the first half of the season.
By all accounts I haven't missed much either.
Even though the Gas lost in the FA Cup to Aston Villa last weekend (see the report below from Monday), I felt that they applied themselves in the right way and didn't look like a side lacking confidence or interest.
Villa had too much in their locker for Rovers, but I suspect that even die hard Gasheads expected their team to bow out of the competition. They will have been pleased with the application and attitude shown by the players though.
On Tuesday evening I was at Hereford to see Rovers take on the Bulls and, again, the players looked up for it.
It has to be said that Hereford were poor in the first half and so that helped the visitors, but whatever was said by manager Jamie Pitman at half time did the trick. In the second period Hereford showed that they too were up for the fight.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, they had Benoit Dalibard sent off. From my side of the pitch it looked like a very harsh decision. The French full back appeared to catch striker Elliot Richards in the face with a high boot without realising the youngster was anywhere near him. I would have chalked it up as an accident, awarded Rovers a free kick and got on with the game. Maybe the Rovers fans who were closer to the incident will disagree.
Rather than crumble though, Hereford - having equalised - rolled up their sleeves and actually went looking for the winner. A positive attitude that must have pleased Pitman.
But it was to be Rovers evening. Caretaker boss Shaun North threw on Scott McGleish, 37, to score his eighth goal of the season and seal the points.
North told me on Saturday that this game was always going to be more important to the club than the Villa tie and given their slide down the table, he was spot on.
He also told me afterwards that he wanted to be "the master of my own destiny" and break into management. If the results keep going for him, who knows he might just get his wish. Scott McGleish also told me last weekend that he fancied the job, but recognised that the club probably wanted someone with more experience.
Indeed they might, but is there any money left in the bank to pay front runners Richard Money, Sean O'Driscoll or Paul Ince?
The Rovers board have rid themselves of five managers (or caretakers) in just over one year. The only one who appeared to be getting it right and had the players on side - Stuart Campbell - was dispensed with and is now sunning himself in Florida having signed for Tampa Bay.
I wonder whether - if the results continue to go the right way - a dream ticket of North and McGleish might be the way ahead? Rumours are circulating around the Mem that whoever gets the job will only have a contract seeing them through until June anyway.
My piece from Wednesday's paper
And another item from the same day

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