00:00Well, Grimsby Town are now well underway this season in League 2.
00:05They picked up their first home win and now they've picked up an away win away at Grimsby Town.
00:10Of course, Grimsby Town having only just come off that monumental win in the League Cup against Manchester United on penalties.
00:17And yet, when the gas came to town, it was the gas who took home all three points.
00:22Macaulay Southern Hale's 27th minute strike saw the Pirates take home all three points from Grimsby leaving.
00:31Manager and head coach Darryl Clark very pleased following the full-time whistle.
00:36Now, certainly not a classic by any means, but I think because of the start of the season that Bristol Rovers have experienced under Darryl Clark,
00:42which has been less than impressive and, if anything, very disappointing and frustrating from Darryl Clark's perspective.
00:48And he's pulled no punches in terms of saying that and making that clear.
00:53He'll be most pleased with getting this win, especially away from home as well.
00:57Against a tough opposition who'd made a decent start to the League 2 campaign.
01:02So, well, what did Darryl Clark make of it?
01:03Well, I think certainly, as mentioned there, very pleased, gritty performance, determined performance to make sure that they were able to hold on.
01:10But I think also slightly disappointed that they were having to hold on in the game as well.
01:14He'd like his sides to be comfortable when winning games.
01:17Now, I know that won't always be possible, but certainly he probably felt that his side were worthy, at least, of being a bit further ahead in the match.
01:25And so, at the ending of that game, they weren't hanging on to the three points.
01:28Yes, ultimately, they got that three points in the end, but it wasn't perhaps in the most comfortable of fashion.
01:34So, where do Bristol Rovers go from here?
01:36Well, of course, there's no international break in League 2, so the games keep coming thick and fast.
01:42And I think Darryl Clark will have them on the training ground straight away, reflecting on that performance.
01:47Be happy with the win, but as it is often quite a cliche in football these days, don't get too high with the wins and don't get too low with the defeats.
01:55And I think Darryl Clark has known that enough from his experience in management since he was last at Bristol Rovers to now come back and understand that.
02:02Because he, of course, wants a side who can get promoted from League 2 this season.
02:06And the start of the season they had didn't reflect that, but now perhaps they are kicking into their stride just a little bit.
02:12Anyway, though, let's hear from Darryl Clark himself, following the victory against Grimsby Town, to hear exactly what he made of it.
02:20His thoughts on how they held on to gain their first away three points of the season.
02:25Yeah, listen, it's a dog to our performance.
02:27I thought the goal was fitting to win any game, if I'm honest with you.
02:31You know, really pleased to come to, obviously, an informed team to start the season well.
02:36And to get the three points, our first away wins is important.
02:40You know, it's something, obviously, as a club we wasn't very good at last season.
02:43And, you know, you have to get your fair amount of points if you're going to reach the goals.
02:47And today was a starting point for our away form.
02:50Yeah, Grimsby have plenty of momentum at the moment.
02:52How important was it to ride out their early storm?
02:54And really put the stamp on the game?
02:56Well, they're a good team.
02:57Dave's doing a cracking job here, so we knew it was going to be difficult.
02:59But I also thought, you know, we had our moments.
03:02We perhaps could have got a couple of goals as well.
03:03But we've had to defend well.
03:05You know, I've had to change the shape numerous times.
03:07And there's reasons behind that, because we're not at the levels I want us to be at at the minute,
03:11our fitness levels.
03:12But that'll come.
03:13You know, we had a midweek game, obviously, Tuesday.
03:15Now we're Saturday, Saturday, Saturday.
03:17We can have a well-earned rest, but then we can also get the levels that we need to get up at.
03:20So we're not...
03:22I mean, if somebody defended well,
03:23we don't need to be hanging on as much as we are in games at the minute.
03:27You mentioned the Maka goal there.
03:28But overall, just being able to have him on the pitch so regularly, that must be pleasing.
03:31Yeah, listen, I want all my players fitting on the pitch.
03:33He's experienced.
03:34He's a leader.
03:35He's part of my leadership group.
03:37He does...
03:38He brings that experience and know-how to the team and the club.
03:42That's why I brought him into the club and what a finish by him.
03:45And in the second half, was it about just battling away to keep a clean sheet,
03:48a third clean sheet at that?
03:49Yeah, listen, somebody's told me beforehand, three years, six months for three league clean sheets.
03:55That's a long time for a football club to not get three league clean sheets in the league.
03:59So three years, six months is a bit of a monkey off the back.
04:02Defended really well at times.
04:04Rode a look a little bit at times today, but we'll take that.
04:08And with winning any sort of game, that must breed confidence in the squad.
04:11Listen, three points, good.
04:13But the objective does a change from where I sit and where I stand.
04:17There's a hell of a lot of work to be done with our group.
04:20But testament to the boys today to put their bodies on the line and got three points.
04:23And finally, you mentioned it before, but now there's a full week ready until the next game.
04:27That must be good.
04:28Yeah, listen, we look forward to it.
04:30We've got the rest in it and we get working hard on the training ground, you know, win, lose or draw the game.
04:34It's always assess the week, build into the week and try and get the levels,
04:38fitness levels up with the lads and get rest in one or two and be fresh for next Saturday.
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