A full transcript of everything Darrell Clarke said post-match after Bristol Rovers won 1-0 away at Grimsby Town on Saturday afternoon
Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter
18:05, 30 Aug 2025Updated 18:05, 30 Aug 2025
Bristol Rovers head coach Darrell Clarke(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
Bristol Rovers secured back-to-back victories in League Two with a 1-0 win away at Grimsby Town, keeping their third clean sheet in a row too.
It was the first time Rovers have kept three consecutive league clean sheets since March 2022, while they have only won once on the road in 2025 which came way back on January 4.
The Gas had to battle hard, but managed to see it through as a stunning Macauley Southam-Hales volley secured victory for Darrell Clarke’s side.
Here is a full transcript of every word Clarke said to local media after the win at Blundell Park…
READ MORE: Grimsby Town 0-1 Bristol Rovers live: Reaction as Southam-Hales stunner secures away win
Darrell, a tremendous win here.
It’s a real positive result for us to come to an in-form team. Great strike, fit to win any game. If I’m honest with you, yet again we’re hanging on a little bit second half. I know the reasons why. Similar to what I said the other week, but I think someone mentioned it to me before the game, it’s been three years and six months since the club’s had three clean sheets [in a row] in the league and we just have managed to achieve that feat.
So being hard to beat is obviously a key to make sure that we’re not conceding goals over the course of the last three games other than the Trophy debacle, we’ve kept three sheets in the league.
The organisation was so good, I think Grimsby only had two shots on target this afternoon, we know how many goals they’ve scored and it seems like centre-backs or everybody really is working so hard.
Yeah, listen, we’re doing a lot of work. Out of possession, Rhys [Carr] has been doing a lot of great work with them and the coaching staff. But we also know the levels of where we need to be at and where I want to get this club at is miles away as well. So I’d have been saying exactly the same thing if we didn’t win the game.
We’ve got a lot work to do and I don’t want to keep being a broken record, but we have. But the lads gave me everything today. It’s a big win at a club that’s in form and we take the three points and be happy with it.
Did you know, Macauley Southam-Hales had that in his locker? You said before, amazing goal to win the game.
No, I didn’t know he had that in the locker room to be honest with you. No, he’s got quality. He’s a good leader. He’s part of the leadership group. He’s got a great strike and it was really pleasing to see him hit the back of the net.
Seven points out of nine as well, you know it’s going to be all about keeping your feet on the ground and does it help now you’ve got a week’s recovery going onto the next game?
You’ve obviously not interviewed me much because it’s done now. That’s the enjoyment of one, we go home and go on to the next game.
The transfer window does close on Monday, any movement going in and out?
Yeah, there will be.
You talked about monkeys off the back with the three clean sheets, but also a first away win for eight months. That’s massive for those fans there.
Of course it is because they spend their hard earned money to come and support us. The fans were magnificent today. You want to reward them with results, don’t you? They haven’t had that for a while. Going home today, they can enjoy that. I’m really pleased for them. Like I said, a lot of work ahead of first.
A really good goalkeeping performance from Luke [Southwood] in particular. I know only two shots on target, but particularly the claims just stopping crosses and easing pressure on his defence. He’s going to be a big loss next weekend.
His experience that he brings as well, but I think we’ve got a good ‘keeper in Brad Young now to take over the mantle, so we’ll be working hard with him next week and he can keep that clean sheet moving into next week. So it’s all about the squad.
Luke has been magnificent since he’s come in. He’s really starting to find his feet now. He’s away with international, so we should be proud that we’ve got an international player on our hands and make sure that Brad’s in the right place to take that on next week.
Good competition in your front line too – Fabrizio could have started, I would imagine, with the two goals the other night. It seems like he’s learning more about the league every game. I mean, that free-kick that he’s won there, deep in added time, that’s really important.
Really good. His energy’s so enthusiastic. He’ll be growing. He’ll get more used to League Two. He will get more than that as well. I’m confident he will score goals down the line but what he will do is that absolute work rate that we’re going to need at the top.
One last question of the transfer window, but in terms of outgoings, there were a few players not in the squad today. In terms of players going out, is that likely to be loans or permanents?
It’s not a rocket science. We can only have 18 in the squad so there’s always going to be people missing out in there. Simple as that. The window is what it is so after after seven o’clock Monday, we’ll talk more then.
READ MORE: Bristol Rovers player ratings vs Grimsby Town: Southam-Hales stars as defence stand firm in win