Trollope builds up chances ahead of Walsall visit

Bristol Rovers Manager Paul Trollope has been telling his clubs' official website www.bristolrovers.co.uk how his side have a great chance when Rovers visit Walsall on Saturday.

He believes his side can take heart from when they entertained us at the Memorial Stadium. A game which Walsall took an early lead, scored a second and then conceeded a very late consolation goal!

"We've got two contrasting games - we go away to a top side, and then entertain a bottom side, so it should make for an interesting weekend. Another four points from them would be ok, but six points would be very nice."

Rovers were beaten 2-1 by Walsall at the Memorial Stadium earlier in the season, but Paul knows the Pirates were hard done by on that occasion.

"We took a lot of heart from our performance that day," he said, "It was a game that we dominated without managing to find the back of the net.

But as a unit now we are better defensively, and although we've had a few blips on the way, we are getting there.

Walsall have a nice pitch, a nice little stadium, there will be a good crowd there tomorrow, and I've said to the players that I believe it's a game that will suit us. For me it's set up for a good performance and a win for us.

If we win at Walsall then brilliant, although if we get a point then it's not the end of the world. But we don't want to be in a position where we have seven or eight players out on their legs on Monday after 65 minutes when we're needing to conjure up a goal."

Although Paul has faith that his side can do the job tomorrow afternoon, he is also aware of the threat Walsall will possess.

It's a big challenge for us, and we've got to give them a lot of respect because they are top of the league," he said, But our form over the last few games has been pretty decent, and that needs to continue.

We know that Walsall start games very quickly, and both physically and mentally we need to be ready for that. They are organised as a unit, and both on the ball and off the ball, their players know their jobs.

They came down last season and they have players who can play at a higher level. They have a very good home record, but in recent weeks in the league and cup they have shown that they can be vulnerable.

They deserve to be where they are in the league because they have been the most consistent side, and it's going to be one hell of a challenge for us. But I'm confident and the players are confident, and hopefully that confidence can help us get the win we'll go there looking for."