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Control is the operative word for Wanderers tonight, as Phil Parkinson looks to put the frantic football of Bradford City and Sheffield United firmly in the past.
It is hoped Jay Spearing’s return from suspension in midfield can restore some order for the Whites, who have spent most of the last 180 minutes of football chasing down a lead, or in the case of Bramall Lane, chasing shadows.
Bristol Rovers have proved stubborn opponents for promotion chasers Scunthorpe, Bradford, Sheffield United and Rochdale – taking a point from each – but Parkinson is keen to see his side stamp some authority on home turf.
“We need to get back to getting more control of games,” he said. “If we are going to avoid the frantic nature of the last two games we need more quality on the ball.
“It becomes a very tough game if you give the ball away cheaply, as we have done. We have missed quality players, so there are some reasons for it, but there have been plenty of times this season where we have controlled the tempo of the game and the opposition have found it tough. We need to get back to that.
“The balance in the game – whether it’s sliding the ball down the sides, or Josh Vela making runs, or Chris Long, the quality of the ball has got to be better.
“The midfield has got to start making that extra man count. We haven’t done that well enough, aside from maybe the second half against Bradford.”
Gary Madine’s absence at Sheffield United created plenty of chatter on the stands and with the striker still laid low by illness on Monday afternoon, it is uncertain whether he will be involved against Darrell Clarke’s Rovers.
Conor Wilkinson stepped into the target man role until his second-half substitution in defeat at Bramall Lane – but Wanderers’ failure to find a ‘plan B’ with Max Clayton and Chris Long up top was one of the main concerns for the manager.
If Madine is missing again, Parkinson expects his side to handle it better than they did on Saturday afternoon.
“Gaz has been in good form but if he’s out, he’s out. There’s nothing we can do about it,” he said.
“Conor is a Madine-type player, six-foot three and has played the target man role. He did okay. We’d made the sub with Alfie (Adam Le Fondre) who I felt was fatigued and then Conor cramped up.
“That was a big game to come into for Conor but when we made the change, with two smaller players at the top end, there needed to be better quality. There were too many fight balls.
“We lost our way after the second goal. We can’t hide away from that.
“We looked a beaten side after 2-0 and that’s not often I can say that.
“It isn’t a true indication of how we have played this season and I don’t like it from any team I am involved in. But we are ready to bounce back.”
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It is hoped Jay Spearing’s return from suspension in midfield can restore some order for the Whites, who have spent most of the last 180 minutes of football chasing down a lead, or in the case of Bramall Lane, chasing shadows.
Bristol Rovers have proved stubborn opponents for promotion chasers Scunthorpe, Bradford, Sheffield United and Rochdale – taking a point from each – but Parkinson is keen to see his side stamp some authority on home turf.
“We need to get back to getting more control of games,” he said. “If we are going to avoid the frantic nature of the last two games we need more quality on the ball.
“It becomes a very tough game if you give the ball away cheaply, as we have done. We have missed quality players, so there are some reasons for it, but there have been plenty of times this season where we have controlled the tempo of the game and the opposition have found it tough. We need to get back to that.
“The balance in the game – whether it’s sliding the ball down the sides, or Josh Vela making runs, or Chris Long, the quality of the ball has got to be better.
“The midfield has got to start making that extra man count. We haven’t done that well enough, aside from maybe the second half against Bradford.”
Gary Madine’s absence at Sheffield United created plenty of chatter on the stands and with the striker still laid low by illness on Monday afternoon, it is uncertain whether he will be involved against Darrell Clarke’s Rovers.
Conor Wilkinson stepped into the target man role until his second-half substitution in defeat at Bramall Lane – but Wanderers’ failure to find a ‘plan B’ with Max Clayton and Chris Long up top was one of the main concerns for the manager.
If Madine is missing again, Parkinson expects his side to handle it better than they did on Saturday afternoon.
“Gaz has been in good form but if he’s out, he’s out. There’s nothing we can do about it,” he said.
“Conor is a Madine-type player, six-foot three and has played the target man role. He did okay. We’d made the sub with Alfie (Adam Le Fondre) who I felt was fatigued and then Conor cramped up.
“That was a big game to come into for Conor but when we made the change, with two smaller players at the top end, there needed to be better quality. There were too many fight balls.
“We lost our way after the second goal. We can’t hide away from that.
“We looked a beaten side after 2-0 and that’s not often I can say that.
“It isn’t a true indication of how we have played this season and I don’t like it from any team I am involved in. But we are ready to bounce back.”
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