Clarke critical of 'weak' Rovers as County fight back to claim FA Cup victory - 7M sport

Clarke critical of 'weak' Rovers as County fight back to claim FA Cup victory



Posted Saturday, November 04, 2017 by PA

Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke has promised changes after seeing his "weak" side dumped out of the FA Cup 4-2 by Notts County having been two goals up.

Two Ryan Yates' headers got the Magpies back on level terms after Liam Sercombe and Stuart Sinclair had put the League One side 2-0 ahead inside 15 minutes.

Jorge Grant crossed for striker Jon Stead to put County in front after the break before the midfielder completed the comeback late on and booked their place in the second round.

Clarke said: "Obviously they're doing well in League Two but for me that sums up our season and there has to be things that change, and things will change.

"It was not good enough. It was just weak, collectively as a group we were weak, we were bullied against a physical team that do what they do very well.

"Every minute of my day is trying to get this club better, and I won't accept that and I won't accept that sort of weak bullied mentality.

"I don't know what I'm going to get from my team, week in week out. I take full responsibility for that, because I put the team together. We've got to regroup but it's a very disappointing night.

"We don't defend well, we make bad decisions. We concede two goals from set pieces. People have got their jobs to do - we've worked all week on defending and what they're all about."

A slow start by County saw them two goals behind as Sercombe headed home and Sinclair rose to meet Chris Lines' corner.

But Yates twice nodded crosses from Carl Dickinson into the back of the net before Stead and Grant completed the fightback.

And County boss Kevin Nolan is confident there is even more to come from his in-form side after knocking out higher league opposition.

"I see it day in and day out and I am telling you there is still more to come," Nolan said.

"We are still a team in a transition and I keep trying to get the belief into these boys just how good they really are and what they can do.

"Against Bristol Rovers I felt we hit the height from what we have been seeing in training. They expressed themselves and played with the shackles off.

"We went 2-0 down and I was very disappointed to concede the goals that we did. But the reaction, attitude and application after that just showed our camaraderie.

"And I think some of our play showed just how hard we have been working in possession.

"What we have been doing on the training pitch we put into practice and I am delighted to be in the next round."

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