Andy Mangan provides stance on Bristol Rovers' managerial situation following Newport County win..
Andy Mangan lifted the lid on his future at Bristol Rovers after the Gas progressed in the EFL Trophy after victory at Newport County
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Bristol Rovers interim manager Andy Mangan claps the travelling supporters
Andy Mangan has admitted that he "will be one of the proudest men ever" if offered the Bristol Rovers manager's job on a permanent basis but also cautioned that it would be difficult to say outright that he would like the job out of respect for his friend Joey Barton.
Thursday will mark three weeks since Barton was relieved of his duties by the Gas with Mangan appointed as caretaker manager. It seems as though there has been little movement since with it still unclear as to whether the former assistant or a new name will be appointed as Barton's successor.
Tuesday evening's 1-0 win at Newport County saw Rovers progress to the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy and extended their unbeaten run under Mangan to five games. Speaking post-match when asked about his future, the caretaker boss admitted: "I've just got to prepare the team as best I can and keep winning games of football. Who knows? We've just got to keep winning.
"I can't thank the staff enough. I can't thank the players enough. They've genuinely been amazing. I think you can see how much they're fighting for the staff. It's a wonderful place knowing that the players are so desperate for you to do well.
"I think we can play better when they feel a bit more free but we'll just have to see what happens."
When asked if he would like the job, the 37-year-old added: "I've also got loads of respect for Joe so for me to say that would be massively disrespectful. It would be difficult for me to say I want the job. It wouldn't be the right thing to do.
"All I can do is keep winning games of football. If the owners decide they want to give me the job then I'll be one of the produest men ever. I would be delighted to take over. All I can keep doing is keep winning games of football. I think you can see the lads are all together so we've just got to take it from there."
Progress in the competition, recently rebranded as the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, was always more important than the way in which the win came about. It was by no means a classic display from the Gas but they will have headed towards the Prince of Wales Bridge thinking it should've been more comfortable.
A cracking finish from one of the team's most in-form players currently in Antony Evans late in the first half was enough to see the visitors beat the League Two outfit but both Luke Thomas and Aaron Collins rattled the woodwork while John Marquis had two one-on-one opportunities that were squandered.
Substitute Scott Sinclair also had the chance to put the result beyond doubt in the second half but Rovers seemed to have left their shooting boots back in England. However, they were once again excellent defensively which meant that the sole goal was enough.
"Yeah, we've missed some chances today that we should've taken clearly but the aim of the game in cup football is to win and especially today being on the same points as Newport," Mangan exclaimed. "We've got the win and we move on to the next round but we should've put them to bed early.
"What happens is towards the end of the game we get a little bit nervy and they obviously start putting the ball into the box. You never know what's going to happen. Again, we defended superbly well we just need to be better and take more chances.
"We've opened them up. There was some good stuff but it doesn't look like it's free-flowing at the moment. It still looks a bit nervy but I'm so proud of the players. Another one-nil. It's another building block. The lads can be very confident going into the international break now. They're coming back on Monday after a couple of days training and they're really ready to go."
i2-prod.bristolpost.co.uk/incoming/article8866076.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_JS307809549.jpgAsked if Evans' goal was straight off the training ground, the interim boss added: "Yeah it was. There might've meant to be another pass in there somewhere. You'll have to ask Antony Evans if he's meant that one.
"We need to improve on our set pieces. Defensively we're the best in the whole Football League. I think there's only one team in the Premier League defensively better than us so we're fantastic at that. That's something that we really needed to improve on from last season. Now we need to improve on offensive set plays and that's a good start tonight.
"It would be easy for me to say he did mean it but you'll have to ask Antony Evans on that. Let's say he did mean it, it was a great goal."
There was also deserved praise for young goalkeeper Jed Ward from Mangan. The 20-year-old was a surprise inclusion with it confirmed during the game by loan side Wealdstone FC that the shot stopper had been recalled from his season-long loan with the National League outfit.
With first-choice Matt Cox called up to the latest England U21s camp, it looked as though the Brentford loanee's understudy Matt Hall would be given the chance to finally make his debut for Bristol Rovers. However, that would've also left no back-up given James Belshaw's loan at Forest Green Rovers.
Subsequently, Ward has been recalled after making a good impression in the fifth tier as well as on the night at Rodney Parade with a calming presence for his defenders as the young goalkeeper claimed everything that was directed at him.
On Ward, Mangan declared: "What he did have to do I thought he was fantastic. Jed Ward today deserves so much credit. We've had to pull him off loan because Coxy's gone. The lad was obviously disappointed because he's out there playing getting that valuable experience that he needs but I thought Jed was fantastic today and deserves so much credit.
"The lads looked after him as well. The team spirit is excellent. Really good signs going into the international break. Another clean sheet. That's five unbeaten now and long may that continue."
After the home game against Fleetwood Town scheduled for Saturday was postponed due to international call-ups, Rovers are now out of action until November 25 when they travel to Derby County in League One with the interim boss adding: "They're going to be in for a couple more days and then they'll have a couple of days off. Completely reset because we've had five games in such a short period of time. It's tough.
"They'll spend a bit of time with their families and then be back on the Monday ready to go for Derby County."
Whether Mangan will be in the dugout first and foremost at Pride Park is unclear, either on an interim or permanent basis or also as a new man's assistant. Three weeks on from Barton's sacking there is still so much uncertainty but the 37-year-old has done all that he can.
Five games unbeaten, four of which victories, is an excellent return. Granted, some of the performances could've been more convincing but we're in a results business and the results have been a stark improvement of what they had previously been; the level of opponent is irrelevant.
Time will tell regarding what happens next but you would hope that the saga is concluded by the time the players get onto the coach headed for Derbyshire.
