Matt Taylor

'Progression': Matt Taylor issues Bristol Rovers season target as start of new campaign dawns..By Daniel Hargraves

Matt Taylor is targeting improvement on last season's 15th place finish for Bristol Rovers ahead the new campaign starting this weekend

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Matt Taylor has called for progression at Bristol Rovers as the start of a new season dawns on the back of a summer of major change in BS7.

The 42-year-old was named Joey Barton's permanent replacement in early December but had to steer his new side through numerous issues on and off the pitch as it quickly became clear that the club was headed towards another transitional period.

Since the end of the last campaign, 17 players have departed, 18 if you include Jed Ward's season-long loan move to Forest Green Rovers, while 12 new recruits have been signed up for the new season. A handful of those fresh faces are expected to make their competitive debuts for the Gas tomorrow evening as Rovers begin their 2024/25 League One campaign at home to Northampton Town.

As a result of the numerous difficulties Rovers faced in the final months of last term, the Gas trudged to a 15th place finish after winning just two of their final 11 league games, which included a club-record seven-game goalless run, despite having a squad that looked capable of much more on paper.

Now, all of that has been cast aside and Taylor is hoping his side can kick on this season with there high ambitions at the club for the coming years going into their season opener at home to Northampton Town tomorrow (Saturday).

"Progression," the Rovers boss declared when asked what would constitute success this season. "Improvement. Can we start to move towards the top half of this league? Something that's not been achieved for such a long time. I think it's 25 years since we finished above 10th in League One. We want to be competitive week in, week out.

"The league's incredible this season. It really is. There's ex-Premier League teams and then countless other teams with incredible strength and resources in different ways and we're just happy to be part of it. But we really want to make, not a statement in any way, but get an identity of this football team out and show for our fans more than anyone else and then build on that, build on a positive platform, which we seem to have right now, but there's been no results to go off as of yet, bar the friendlies.

"So we're building towards something with so many new players and so many young players. It will take time and there will be some inconsistencies in there but I'm sure there's excitement about what we might be able to achieve further down the line."

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Although it was never going to be completed within just one summer, Taylor has already overseen a great deal of change as he looks to construct an inherited squad more in his image. Seven players were immediately released at the end of last season, which included some key figures such as former club captain Sam Finley and striker John Marquis, while all six players on loan at the club returned to their parent sides.

Since, another four have left with Luca Hoole and Jordan Rossiter both going to Shrewsbury Town after their contracts expired while Antony Evans and James Connolly were sold to Huddersfield Town and Crewe Alexandra respectively.

Away from the playing side of things, Rovers have also appointed a new-look coaching and backroom staff to assist the Gas manager while Director of Football George Friend, who was appointed in February, has been a key driver in the recruitment process alongside Head of Recruitment Chris Spendlove.

It feels as though the process of Taylor truly putting his stamp on things in BS7 has gotten well underway this summer ahead of the start of the new season and, when asked if it feels as though this is the true start of his time at the club, the 42-year-old said: "Yeah. I mean, as long as it stays settled, which it never does in football, and certainly not at Bristol Rovers. But that's certainly something we're aiming for. Consistency and a rhythm.

"There are big plans at this football club. Everyone knows the stadium plans have started to come and I'm being shown already. There's just plans for the training ground. So there's various aspects of the club which will continue to grow and I think the team on the pitch is like that but the team on the pitch doesn't get as much time because we're judged. Come half five on Saturday, we'll be getting judged. I'll be getting judged, the players will be getting judged, our recruitment will be getting judged, how we set up the team, players' performances in the hardest possible environment and circumstances.

"But that's what we do. That's our job. Like I say, this group has got to find a way of enjoying the pressure and expectation and finding ways of showing what they're capable of regardless of anything else which surrounds them. I can say it's a good game for us in terms of a home game to start off with and then we've got some incredible away fixes to look forward to.

"But I can guarantee one thing that the fans will be in good voice as they always are to start and we've got to keep them in that good place for as long as we possibly can."

Matt Taylor on 1-0 victory v Northampton Town..by Daniel Hargraves

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Matt Taylor has admitted that it will still take his Bristol Rovers team a long time to play completely the way he would like but praised the way in which his side grew during their opening day victory over Northampton Town.

A 92nd minute header from debutant Bryant Bilongo secured a 1-0 win for the Gas following a corner, putting an end to their opening day rot which has seen them go 12 seasons without starting a campaign with a victory.

However, the hosts started poorly at The Mem, playing with a disjointed nature which suggested that there is still plenty of work to do as this new-look side continue to gel and get used to playing with each other. After a stodgy opening 20 minutes, Rovers improved over the remainder of the first half before being the better side for the vast majority of the second.

"Where we were in the start of the first half, it was a long way off," the Gas manager said when asked how close the performance was to what he would like a Matt Taylor team to look like. "I want us to pass forward and run forward and do it with more quality and be a bit bolder with our play. We started to show that as the game went on. We never really moved their centre-halves enough to work their goalkeeper but people say what does a Matt Taylor team look like, we’re building it. It will take a long time because they’re so new and so fresh but the intent grew as that second half went on.

"I’m not going to sit here and say we’re deserved winners but between the two teams I thought we were the stronger ones to finish."

Rovers seemed to find their mojo after debutant striker Promise Omochere forced a good save from Lee Burge after attempting to curl the ball into the far bottom corner but couldn't find the breakthrough before half-time. Omochere also found himself on the end of a decent chance as Luke Thomas chipped a cross towards the backpost with the Irishman heading wide from close range.

However, the Gas continued to push with a raucous home crowd behind them creating one of the best atmospheres in BS7 since the late victories over Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic at the end of 2023. Eventually, that culminated in what eventually proved to be a deserved winner via Bilongo.

Asked if the atmosphere was the best he had seen at The Mem since taking charge of Rovers last December, Taylor added: "Yes, and it took a little while. There was so much going into it and then you watch the first half an hour and I’m thinking it’s not quite how we were looking in pre-season. The opposition played a part in that. The fans really stuck with us and towards the end of the first half you felt it turning a little bit and then maybe going towards the core group of it and the noise in that second half just helped us on.

"There were some good goalmouth moments without materialising into a goal but then there was no better time to score a winner."

Next up for the Gas is a League Cup first round trip to Championship side Cardiff City on Tuesday before consecutive away matches in League One at Rotherham United and Stockport County.

'Expected more' - 'Disappointed' Matt Taylor reflects on Bristol Rovers' cup exit at Cardiff..By Daniel Hargraves

Bristol Rovers had bright spells in their Carabao Cup tie at Cardiff City but ultimately lost the game with improvement in the final third needed

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Matt Taylor has admitted he "expected a little bit more" from his Bristol Rovers side as they were beaten 2-0 away at Championship side Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup first round on Tuesday evening.

Rovers made six changes to the side that started their 1-0 opening day win over Northampton Town on Saturday while Cardiff changed their entire 11 from the team that began their 2-0 defeat to Sunderland with a handful of youngsters making their first senior starts.

The Gas had the better of the chances in the first half with the best falling to Promise Omochere after good work from Luke Thomas and the striker himself to win the ball back and get the move going, only for the Irishman to blast the ball over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area when receiving it back.

Taylor's men then struggled to create much of note in the second half as the Bluebirds started to dominate with their substitutions proving more effective than their League One counterparts. Eventually, goals from Mark McGuinness and Rubin Colwill secured the victory for the hosts.

"I said before to the players, I don’t just want credit to us for these performances which people give us positivity for but we get beat," the Rovers manager exclaimed post-match. "It’s absolutely irrelevant in football. We’re in a winning business and even more so when you saw 11 changes to their team sheet. I know we made changes but I expected a little bit more tonight.

"I’m disappointed," Taylor added. "I thought we probably created the best chances in the first half. The team were set up well but we have to better with the ball, we have to be better in our attacking moments in the game. And that’s throughout, not just in the first half when we had the better of the chances.

"Then, a little bit aggrieved because we thought that it was a foul down here on Luke McCormick and then they counter against us and then we defend a set-piece poorly. So we learned a bit of a lesson in terms of certain personnel in relation to those moments. But yeah, I’ve got to be honest, I am disappointed."

In those six changes, Connor Taylor and Jake Garrett got their first competitive minutes of the season while Michael Forbes, Joel Senior, Jamie Lindsay, McCormick came in having been substitutes against Northampton. Both Taylor and Garrett particularly stood out while Clinton Mola was solid at left-back in a back-four while Josh Griffiths made some vital saves towards the end of the game.

Regarding individuals who came in having not started last weekend though, the frustrating aspect for Taylor will be that few gave him a reason to start them in this Saturday's league trip to Rotherham United, particularly given that there were so many outstanding displays against the Cobblers.

"Connor Taylor, I thought was our best player so he’s not changed in terms of what he is," the Gas boss said, while also admitting that Taylor can now be deemed full fit after completing a full 90 minutes. "We’ve just got to get him up to speed and sharper. I’m looking at who are going to make the difference because I think we’re all contributing out of possession.

"We’re all working our socks off, the pressing aspect, the workrate, the diligence of the team, the responsibility of the team. We’ve done so much in relation to that but it’s got to really value winning the ball back and that was my frustration tonight.

"There are so many aspects of our game which I’m really enjoying. I’m watching us and liking us and we’re hard to break down but then we’ve got to be the ones that sustain some attacks for a little bit longer and put pressure on the opposition goal."

MT has a very different aura this season. Their largely his players and his staff and he comes across as enjoying his job. Unlike last season.

'Really good game' - Matt Taylor assesses upcoming test against newly-promoted Stockport County..By Daniel Hargraves

Bristol Rovers make their first trip to Edgeley Park in 15 years on Saturday as they face newly-promoted Stockport County

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Matt Taylor has reserved plenty of praise for Stockport County ahead of taking his Bristol Rovers side up to Edgeley Park on Saturday lunchtime following the Hatters' excellent start to the new season on the back of winning League Two last term.

Stockport have won their opening two games in League One, beating Cambridge United at home 2-0 before going to Blackpool and thumping the Tangerines 3-0. County did have a 6-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Blackburn Rovers in there too but named a largely inexperienced side.

Looking back further, the Cheshire outfit have enjoyed three promotions in six seasons, rising from the National League North back up to the third tier and with momentum on their side coincided with investment behind the scenes, it's impossible to gauge just how large of a upward trajectory Stockport could enjoy.

"They’ve started this season so, so well and the bounce of the promotion," Taylor declared with the Rovers manager hailing from Chorley, not a million miles away from Stockport. "As a kid and when I played, Stockport was a big club. Traditionally a big club in the North West and in and around Manchester so it’s great to see them getting back to where they should be because I’m sure their local support and community feel they deserve that from what they’ve been through in recent years. But a well-managed team with a good squad.

"If you put that combination together then you’ve always got a chance but we want to be talking about our start at the end of the game this weekend as opposed to Stockport. They’ve won their first two games but we’ve got four points out of the two.

"I think it’s going to be a really good game of football but as always when you go away from home, and we certainly felt that at Rotherham, you’ve got to ride your luck at times. Your defensive mindset has got to be there but you’ve also got to find a way to take the game to the opposition in certain moments.

"Probably the result of last weekend to go to Blackpool and win 3-0," the 42-year-old added. "A lot to like about them. I think we knew the clubs coming up from League Two were generally going to be stronger than previous seasons. That’s already been shown in terms of league results I suppose and Stockport are certainly one of those. We go into a club on the up.

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Jayden Fevrier celebrates scoring for Stockport County against Blackpool

"Not that long ago this team were in the National League but with good management and a little bit of investment they’re moving through the leagues. I hope they continue to do that because that’s a big club in the North West but this weekend we’re going to have to find a way to nullify their attacking threat which has obviously been on show in the first couple of games and find ways to create more chances ourselves."

It'll be the first time the two clubs have met since March 2010 and the Gas' first trip to Edgeley Park in 15 years with their last visit a 2-0 win in League One in August 2009. That season was the Hatters' most recent in the third tier with their eventual relegation the first of three within four campaigns as they plummeted down into the National League North.

However, under the management of Dave Challinor, Stockport have enjoyed two promotions in the last three seasons and are expected to only keep looking upward and cause a stir in the third tier this term.

There will be two familiar faces in the home dugout on Saturday for Rovers fans with former coaches Clint Hill and Andy Mangan on Challinor's coaching staff. Mangan took charge of seven matches as interim boss after Joey Barton's sacking last October, departing in November ahead of Taylor's arrival.

Although this weekend's hosts have won both of their opening league games, the Gas haven't done badly in the league themselves, beating Northampton Town 1-0 and drawing 0-0 at Rotherham United last weekend. They did play on Tuesday night, drawing 3-3 with Tottenham Under-21s in the EFL Trophy, although the vast majority of players in contention to be involved against Stockport were given the night off.

In terms of preparation though, this is only matchday three in the league which, according to Taylor, does still make it slightly difficult to get an accurate idea of what to expect from the opposition and for Rovers to do their homework as thoroughly as they would like.

"I think it’s still difficult," the Gas boss admitted when asked about being able to analyse upcoming opponents so early into a season. "I think the only thing that we’ve seen is that they’ve not made many changes in their league. Obviously, substitutes and changes as games go on and they made a lot of changes in the Carabao Cup, similar to ourselves really. So they’ve had that little bit of consistency.

"You just don’t know what happens on the training pitch throughout the week. People don’t know where our bodies are on the back of Tuesday so there’s always that little bit of unknown. But I suppose with a team that’s been so consistent over the last couple of seasons, you start to pick up a couple more patterns.

"I think they’re an easier team to predict than Rotherham in terms of their style because they’ve been together for a longer period and Rotherham were similar to ourselves with so many new players and a little bit of unknown and players signing late as well.

"So, I don’t think we’re at that stage. I think probably half a dozen to ten games into the season we’ll start to get those patterns and pitches of what this League One campaign looks like for each and every team but we’ve got a slight idea of what to expect from Stockport."

Matt Taylor rues repeated final third issues as Bristol Rovers suffer defeat at Stockport County..By Daniel Hargraves

Bristol Rovers had bright moments away at Stockport County but once again fail to convert in the final third

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Matt Taylor has highlighted that Bristol Rovers' regain moments had to be better as they were defeated 2-0 away at Stockport County on Saturday afternoon with their struggles to find the back of the net present again.

Rovers enjoyed the better of the play over the course of the opening half an hour with Taylor Moore, Bryant Bilongo and Promise Omochere all having decent opportunities to score from corners but found themselves behind when Louie Barry produced an outstanding volley from a Clinton Mola header.

A poor start to the second half eventually culminated in the Gas going behind by two goals as Kyle Wooton converted from close range via a corner. However, opportunities still fell to players in green with substitute Scott Sinclair firing over the cross bar from close range while Omochere had another sniff to open his account in a Rovers shirt.

The Gas were also forced to play the final handful of minutes with 10 men after substitute Joel Senior was forced off with an injury following all five changes being made.

"I liked a lot of aspects of the first half and then the mistake let them get their tails up in the game," Taylor declared post-match. "We've said this now for three weeks so I can't be a broken record but our use of the ball, certainly in regain moments, when it was in and around bodies in the middle of the park wasn't good enough.

"But we still created chances and then the goal came out of nothing and we're on the back foot. You've then got to understand where the game is at and I thought we started the second half poorly.

"When we lose Chrissy early on it's always going to be a blow in that second half. We didn't quite get a handle on the game and then we defended a set-piece moment poorly. We've still created moments today but without the same pattern of not really making their 'keeper work.

"You can talk about positives but the game ended up 2-0 and the last 15, 20 minutes in painful because we've got 10 men and have lost another player to injury."

Both teams went into Saturday's lunchtime kick-off with unbreached defences in the league with Stockport boasting maximum points after wins against Cambridge United and Blackpool while Rovers had beaten Northampton Town 1-0 and drawn 0-0 at Rotherham United.

Although the defence has looked vastly improved on last season, the Gas' goalscoring issues still remain. However, Saturday's game at Edgeley Park saw Rovers create arguably the best string of chances they within the trio of league outings so far and rued poor finishing.

"There are two elements which we weren't good enough with," the Rovers boss added. "Obviously the defensive aspects of the goals with the set-piece and the goal out of nothing and we feel our regains were really poor. I thought Kamil was our best player in possession but then we have got to work the goal a little bit more when we get those chances. Whether it's Taylor Moore in the first half, even Bryant with the header. These are good chances.

"That was the difference between those two teams today and that's no disrespect to Stockport, they got better and better as the game went on, but I'm stood there after 30, 40 minutes really pleased with where the game is at but we still need to make those moments count.

"There's an individual aspect to that as well because the longer we go without scoring and being free flowing in those moments then they'll take the safe option. It's the opposite to what we're asking them to do. I think some of those attacking players, we all attack and defend together, are capable of showing a lot more. They have to show a lot more if they're going to be on the pitch and be in the team because when we win the ball back, which we did countless times in that first half, that's the way we're going to hurt the opposition."

Poor chap!….

Matt Taylor on Bristol Rovers transfer latest and free agent possibilities ahead of deadline day...By Daniel Hargraves

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Bristol Rovers have until Friday evening to complete their summer transfer business, but the free agent market could offer other possibilities

Matt Taylor has revealed Bristol Rovers feel as though they're close to making their 15th signing of the summer transfer window ahead of Friday evening's deadline while also admitting that assessing the free agent market is also likely.

It has been a hectic summer in the transfer market for Rovers who have, at the time of writing, signed 14 players while also seeing 18 depart since the end of last season.

The transfer window is set to close at 11pm on Friday evening ahead of Saturday's home game against Cambridge United and, although the Gas manager admitted that Rovers' position in the market is currently comfortable, there is hope that at least one more addition will be completed imminently.

"George [Friend]'s phone is constantly on the go and we feel we're pretty close to one," Taylor revealed. "He's been a target since before this week. So, in terms of the planning and strategy we've had we've kind of stuck to it.

"There were cup games on Tuesday and Wednesday and some players were playing in that that I think now are available who weren't previously. Things settle down in relations to squads, obviously other teams are waiting on players coming in to make players available and vice-versa. It's a bit of a dominoes effect in terms of the knock-on.

"I suppose the deeper it goes, the more heightened the conversations are and the closer deals get to being done one way or another because there is a cut off point going towards the weekend. I'm looking forward to this time next week when we can talk about other things in life other than the transfer window.

"Regardless of what happens in the next few days, I think we're quite comfortable and pleased with the business that's been done previously."

Although he didn't specify exactly, the understanding is that the player the Gas hope they're close to signing will be a striker with adding another figure to the top end of the pitch a long-term priority for the final weeks of the window.

Rovers have already broken their club-record transfer fee to sign Promise Omochere from Fleetwood Town for around £500,000 while they also secured the signing of Ruel Sotiriou from Leyton Orient who scored 11 goals in League One last season.

However, they have been dealt a major blow within their striking options after Chris Martin was ruled out for a significant period of time after breaking his fibula in last weekend's defeat at Stockport County. Although that has emphasised the need to add another goalscorer, especially given that the Gas have scored just one league goal in three games so far this term, Rovers were always in the market for a striker regardless of Martin's injury.

"I think that position has been looked at for a long period of time now, not just the last couple of weeks," Taylor declared. "We worked so hard to get Chrissy re-signed to start with and then bringing Ruel and Promise in but we still want to add to that group of out-and-out centre-forwards. We've got a lot of hybrid players in between the lines but out-and-out centre-forwards is important, even more so probably after what happened at the weekend.

"We're working towards it. I expecting to have another body in by the weekend but you never quite know in football until things are fully signed, sealed and delivered.

"We have to be understanding of where we are budget-wise, situation-wise, circumstance-wise, where we've worked towards other areas of the pitch and strengthened and also availability. Unless you're going to outlay a huge financial amount, there's not many of real quality available so more than likely you're going to move towards players who are available for whatever reason.

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Chris Martin scored 16 League One goals for Bristol Rovers last season

"If it's a loan, they're probably young players trying to find their way in the game and we'll look to develop them and if they're free agents, so to speak, then it's not just the next couple of days. They might come at a later stage."

Outgoings are also being mooted with potential loan deals being explored for younger players with centre-back Dan Ellison expected to be at the forefront of that while a solution is still being figured out regarding Jevani Brown who is evidently not in Taylor's plans after being excluded from every matchday squad so far this season.

However, the transfer window closing may not necessarily mark the conclusion of Rovers' business in regards to incomings with exploration of the free agent market a possibility.

A teamsheet went viral on social media earlier this week when a team set up by the PFA of free agents faced, coincidentally, Cambridge in a friendly, highlighting a number of players with experience in League One and higher up the pyramid.

To name a couple, players such as Dwight Gayle, Ravel Morrison, Martyn Waghorn, Michael Hector, Nesta Guiness-Walker and Jamal Blackman were all amongst those involved having not yet found new clubs with the pool of unattached players potentially offering other possibilities for the Gas with no deadline set on when clubs can pick up free agents.

Asked whether dipping into the free agent market is a possibility, Taylor said: "Of course it is. Chris Martin signed in September last year so that's a prime example of what can be achieved if you're sensible in that market. I think that game was against Cambridge so we've been trying to find out a teamsheet to see who was and wasn't playing!

"Great to see, first and foremost, what the PFA have done this year in terms of hosting that and providing that provision for out of contract footballers. I've been one myself so it's hugely important to be able to train full-time and then not going into a club at this time throughout a season or at this stage with no training or pre-season and then you're constantly playing catch-up throughout the course of the season.

"Well done and congratulations to the PFA and everyone involved in that and there are still a lot of good players who aren't tied down anywhere else and I think that will still be the case after the next couple of days."