21:45, 23 Jul 2025<\/p>\n
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Bristol Rovers head coach Darrell Clarke looks on(Image: Bristol Rovers FC)<\/p>\n
Darrell Clarke has admitted that his Bristol Rovers side “didn’t look after the ball well enough” in a “real good fitness exercise” as they stepped up their pre-season preparations with a home friendly against Championship side Coventry City on Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n
The Sky Blues finished fifth in the second tier last season before losing to Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals and brought a first team squad to the Mem.<\/p>\n
Luke Southwood was called upon to make two good saves in the first half before Coventry eventually broke the deadlock in the second half as a Macauley Southam-Hales own goal and a lovely moved finished off by Kaine Kesler-Hayden earned the visitors a 2-0 win. For Rovers, Promise Omochere and Ruel Sotiriou came closest with headers over the bar in both halves.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Report: Bristol Rovers undone by Championship quality in penultimate pre-season friendly<\/a><\/p>\n Reflecting on the match, Clarke told Bristol Live<\/a>: “A real good fitness exercise for us. We had loads of spells without the ball. I thought we defended really well for large spells if it had to. Nothing came through the middle of us against obviously a talented team; they made the 10 changes at half time.<\/p>\n “The biggest disappointment for me tonight is that we didn’t look after the ball well enough to build our attacks. We’ve been trying to get the basics into the boys to make sure we’re strong defensively, we’re solid. We shipped too many goals last season, we need to knock that on the head, we need do the basics of the game really, really well and that’s what we’re working to, getting the lads really fit.<\/p>\n “That’s why we’re playing two Championship teams and getting the basics with the game without the ball. We know how much work we’ve got to do with the ball. We know how more we’ve got to get connections on the pitch, but also we’re not going to come up against Coventry week in week out in League Two.<\/p>\n “With the greatest respect, they moved the ball well, they’ve got their patterns, they’ve had a consistent way of working now for a period of time,” the Rovers head coach added. “We’re a bit of a newish team, if I’m honest with you, because obviously we write off the last season and the principles that we’re trying to get in play without the ball have been key for us at the minute.<\/p>\n “Making sure we defend well and making sure we’re defending from the front. Making sure teams aren’t coming through the middle of us and the builds and the transitions and being better with the ball will come.”<\/p>\n Bristol Rovers are preparing for a new season in League Two with Darrell Clarke back at the helm and you won’t miss a beat with our free newsletter.<\/p>\n All the latest news, views, interviews, gossip and analysis concerning the Gas, delivered straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/20250513_DCSigns_WC063-copy.jpg\")
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