Post by Gas Go Marching In on Jan 30, 2015 9:53:25 GMT
MARCUS Stewart believes Bristol Rovers may have to resort to a rudimentary approach if they are to come away from Dartford with a victory that would boost their promotion hopes.
Rovers resume their pursuit of long-time Vanarama Conference leaders Barnet when they take on struggling Dartford at Princes Park tomorrow and assistant boss Stewart anticipates that 'winning ugly' may be the order of the day.
"It's not going to be an easy game," said Stewart. "We've had them watched and we know what they are all about. The pitch will certainly be a bit of a leveller because it's not the tidiest in the world – and we have prepared for that also.
"We've told the lads what type of game we expect it to be and we're confident that they all know what will be required of them to make sure that we get the points.
"If it is one of those games that is more to do with winning your tackles and headers rather than stringing passes together, then these lads are able to adapt to that."
Rovers could be without midfielder Stuart Sinclair, who was scheduled to have a scan on an injured foot yesterday, and Stewart said: "We will see how we go on that one.
"Stuart is a pretty honest guy and the fact that he hasn't been out there for two weeks after what was a pretty innocuous challenge tells you that something is not quite right."
Manager Darrell Clarke has a number of difficult selection decisions to make ahead of the game after opting to go with Will Puddy over Steven Mildenhall in goal at Woking last time out.
"The situation is that we have two great goalkeepers competing for one place," said Stewart. "All of the squad are professionals and know that the manager will pick the right team for each game.
"It is not a case of just playing one game and being back on the bench for the next one because the so say first-choice is available again.
It offers hope to those players who don't always start that the manager is looking deeper than just the first XI. That helps to keep spirits up throughout the squad because every player needs a goal to aim for when they come into training every day.
"It is important that everyone has a carrot dangled in front of them. It is a squad game and not about a divide between first-team and reserve players."
Rovers, meanwhile, will be playing only their second game since New Year's day and Stewart added: "The lads are hungry to be back out there.
"The weekend we had without a game at the start of January was helpful in terms of rest and recovery after a busy Christmas period. It's great to have some time to allow one or two injuries to clear up, but ideally you would want to be playing more often that twice in a month.
"We need to get going and get some momentum back into the team as quickly as we can and we are looking forward to finding our rhythm again over the next few weeks." Clarke's hopes of adding to his squad before the trip to Princes Park have receded after a move for one target ended in failure on Wednesday.
The manager is still keen to bolster his group with one new face before Monday's transfer deadline and is understood to be awaiting a response after making an enquiry for another target.
Rovers resume their pursuit of long-time Vanarama Conference leaders Barnet when they take on struggling Dartford at Princes Park tomorrow and assistant boss Stewart anticipates that 'winning ugly' may be the order of the day.
"It's not going to be an easy game," said Stewart. "We've had them watched and we know what they are all about. The pitch will certainly be a bit of a leveller because it's not the tidiest in the world – and we have prepared for that also.
"We've told the lads what type of game we expect it to be and we're confident that they all know what will be required of them to make sure that we get the points.
"If it is one of those games that is more to do with winning your tackles and headers rather than stringing passes together, then these lads are able to adapt to that."
Rovers could be without midfielder Stuart Sinclair, who was scheduled to have a scan on an injured foot yesterday, and Stewart said: "We will see how we go on that one.
"Stuart is a pretty honest guy and the fact that he hasn't been out there for two weeks after what was a pretty innocuous challenge tells you that something is not quite right."
Manager Darrell Clarke has a number of difficult selection decisions to make ahead of the game after opting to go with Will Puddy over Steven Mildenhall in goal at Woking last time out.
"The situation is that we have two great goalkeepers competing for one place," said Stewart. "All of the squad are professionals and know that the manager will pick the right team for each game.
"It is not a case of just playing one game and being back on the bench for the next one because the so say first-choice is available again.
It offers hope to those players who don't always start that the manager is looking deeper than just the first XI. That helps to keep spirits up throughout the squad because every player needs a goal to aim for when they come into training every day.
"It is important that everyone has a carrot dangled in front of them. It is a squad game and not about a divide between first-team and reserve players."
Rovers, meanwhile, will be playing only their second game since New Year's day and Stewart added: "The lads are hungry to be back out there.
"The weekend we had without a game at the start of January was helpful in terms of rest and recovery after a busy Christmas period. It's great to have some time to allow one or two injuries to clear up, but ideally you would want to be playing more often that twice in a month.
"We need to get going and get some momentum back into the team as quickly as we can and we are looking forward to finding our rhythm again over the next few weeks." Clarke's hopes of adding to his squad before the trip to Princes Park have receded after a move for one target ended in failure on Wednesday.
The manager is still keen to bolster his group with one new face before Monday's transfer deadline and is understood to be awaiting a response after making an enquiry for another target.