00:00Well, Tuesday evening saw quite the crazy game at the Memorial Stadium in the EFL Trophy as Bristol Rovers drew 4-4 with Tottenham Hotspurs under 21s before a penalty shootout meant that Bristol Rovers gained an extra point by winning it.
00:16At one stage, they were 3-0 down were Bristol Rovers. Certainly not a great start to the game for them, but they fought their way back into it. They got to 3-2 and then Tottenham Hotspurs scored another goal, made it 4-2 before then Bristol Rovers got it back to 4-4 to earn the penalty shootout, which of course they won.
00:34EFL Trophy rules state that if there is a draw in normal time of the group stage of this competition, then a penalty shootout does take place with the victor of the shootout getting an extra point in the group.
00:46So of course, one point apiece for the draw, but then Bristol Rovers actually won the penalty shootout, meaning that they earned two points from the fixture.
00:54So quite crazy, quite unbelievable, it's fair to say. What a game, but I think it's fair to say also that Bristol Rovers will not have been happy.
01:03Certainly Daryl Clark, John Stead, Rhys Carr will not have been happy with their side start to the game, going 3-0 down so early on during the fixture.
01:11But they will take a lot from the encouragement gained from coming back into the game, getting themselves into it, 3-2, but then of course conceding another goal, going to 4-2.
01:20But then again, having that determination to get back into the game and then scoring another two to make it 4-0.
01:26So that's what they'll take from the game. Of course, lots to be concerned about by the start they made,
01:31but also lots to be encouraged about. By the way, they were able to fight their way back into proceedings.
01:37So let's hear now from one of the assistant head coaches, Rhys Carr, who did make clear that the Bristol Rovers can't afford to start games like that
01:45in that fashion, going 3-0 down so early on.
01:48But he also made clear that they will take a lot from the fact that they were able to get themselves back into the game,
01:54facing such adversity in the situation that they were in.
01:58And of course, to still have that composure to then go on and win a penalty shootout also says a lot about the direction that they are travelling in.
02:05But let's hear now from Rhys Carr after the full-time whistle.
02:10Yeah, my immediate reaction is really disappointed with the first half in particular.
02:15We have to start games of football miles better than that.
02:18We know that and we have to show that as well.
02:21To take some positives from it, a little bit of character to get back into the game, Fabrizio coming off the bench and getting his first couple of goals.
02:28There's a couple of positives to spin from that, but we can't start games of football like that, as open as that.
02:34So we're disappointed and that needs to be addressed and we'll look to put that right.
02:38Yeah, you mentioned those 15 minutes there.
02:40The first 15 minutes, there's no other word than disappointing for that.
02:43Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
02:45I don't really know how to describe it other than that.
02:48You know, we're with the players, we'll work with the players, we'll try and make the players better.
02:52That's our job.
02:52That's our job as coaches to get the team organised and to make the players better.
02:56So we'll get to work on doing that so that can't happen again.
02:59And in the second half, was that performance much more improved in your eyes?
03:02You see the intensity in the game.
03:04You saw the energy went up.
03:05You saw that the spaces were a bit smaller.
03:07Yes, we tweaked things a little bit tactically, but there was definitely more energy out there in the second half as well.
03:12You know, and they did grab the game by the scruff of the neck a little bit.
03:16So, you know, you should probably be in a little bit more of a positive frame of mind than what I am and what we are at the moment.
03:21But yeah, you know, if we were going to spin a positive, the reaction to going down was good.
03:26And Fabrizio coming off the bench for his first two goals, they were two fine finishes, weren't they?
03:30Yeah, yeah, really good.
03:31You know, he works on it in training.
03:33It's tough.
03:34You know, he's a young lad.
03:34He's come to a new country, meeting new people.
03:36It's very, very different.
03:38But when he gets on the pitch, it's two goals at one end and a ball in the middle.
03:42So, yeah, to see his energy, not only, you know, his finishes, but his pressing, the way that he's working for the team as well.
03:48Yeah, that was really positive.
03:50We mentioned the disappointing start, but to go from three goals down to 4-4, that is definitely something you can take.
03:55Yeah, you know, it is.
03:56It is absolutely.
03:57I think as coaches, you know, our job is to try and make players and teams better.
04:01So we always sometimes look at things a little bit, you know, could this be better?
04:04Could that be better?
04:05Yeah, and we always do even better ifs when we do our analysis.
04:08You know, the previous two games, two clean sheets.
04:10We're still talking about things that we can do better defensively.
04:13So as coaches, we're always looking at that.
04:14But yeah, like you say, a poor start, but a good ending in the end.
04:19And a couple of fine penalty saves from Brad Young as well.
04:21That must have his confidence going forward.
04:23Yeah, you know, and Brad is a great character.
04:26He works hard.
04:26He works really hard with bits.
04:27Him and Luke are always pushing each other.
04:30So yeah, it was good to see him and get that moment.
04:32I'm sure he might want one or two back in the game.
04:34But, you know, he's a real strong character.
04:36Brad spoke to him just before the shootout there.
04:38And those shootouts, you know, they're designed for moments to become a hero.
