5 days ago
2
Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer says the club will have a "big January" in the transfer window after ending their 13-match winless run against Shrewsbury Town on New Year's Day.
The Gas had not tasted victory in League Two since 27 September, a dismal run which led to head coach Darrell Clarke's sacking with Steve Evans appointed in his place last month.
Advertisement
Fabrizio Cavegn's hat-trick in the 3-0 win against the Shrews moved them up to 20th in the table, four points above the relegation zone.
"When you've got a side that wants to fight and dig in and scrap for three points you're always going to give yourself a chance, and I think that's what you've seen at Shrewsbury," Lockyer told BBC Radio Bristol.
"That's the bare minimum now and there's more to come which is nice. We've been told that it's going to be a big January and I'm looking forward to it.
"The more we can get in the better, the more leaders, the more men we can have through the door will help us."
Advertisement
Lockyer returned to football after a two-year absence with Bristol Rovers in October under Clarke, who he played for at the club at the start of his career.
He said it had been a "tough couple of months for everybody" at the club as they slid down the table, and that the mood in the changing room after their win was not "too jubilant".
"We know our standards haven't been anywhere near good enough this last calendar year," Lockyer said.
Rovers have picked up four points (W1, D1, L2) across Evans' first four matches in charge and Lockyer said you could see a "reaction" from the players to his appointment.
Advertisement
While they lost 3-2 to league leaders Bromley, they led for 54 minutes until Shaq Forde was sent off, and against Barnet, they were undone by two goals from set-pieces.
"The gaffer's come in now and he's demanded a few non-negotiables, which I like, which I can get behind and can bring success and you've seen a reaction of sorts," Lockyer said.
"To come away to Shrewsbury, defend set-pieces and be big, strong and ugly and do the dirty side, but the basics I'd call it - obviously Fab [Cavegn] has put them away really well as well - I thought we fully deserved the three points."
English (US) ·