Coughlan wants more goals from Davies
Posted Sunday, October 13, 2019 by PA
Bristol Rovers boss Graham Coughlan has challenged Tom Davies to score more goals after the defender’s classy finish saw the hosts take all three points against MK Dons.
The 27-year-old somehow failed to convert from a yard out after a brilliant save from former Rovers keeper Lee Nicholls.
However, Davies failed to let his head drop, volleying home superbly after an inviting left-wing cross from Luke Leahy and, in the process, doubling his career goals tally as the Gas stretched their unbeaten league run to six games and moved fourth in League One.
“I don’t know what he was doing,” Coughlan said about the miss. “Somebody needed to tell him we were shooting in that goal, not trying to keep it out!
“Tom’s been different class and I knew exactly what I was getting when I was chasing him in the summer.
“But my challenge would be for him to get more goals. He’s as a brave as a lion. Go and stick your head on more things in their box, because he does it in our box!”
Coughlan was pleased with the battling qualities of his players.
“I wouldn’t say we were at our best, but it’s very difficult coming off the back of a two-week lay-off,” he said. “It was a pretty makeshift team near the end.
“The lads deserve a lot of credit. They’ve set standards and I want them to realise that they can make this season a far better season than last [when Rovers finished 15th].”
Coughlan’s opposite number Paul Tisdale was understandably disappointed as MK Dons slumped to a fifth League One defeat in succession and despite putting on a brave face, it is clear that the pressure is ratcheting up on the former Exeter boss.
“There are teams in our situation whose work rate might start to wane, and ours has not,” he said. “The players still had that energy and that drive, but we all know that we need to make games go our way.
“They scored from a set-piece, which will always demand questions when we get back to work on Monday.
“In the first half, the pattern of our game was good. The bizarre thing is that they looked more likely to score on the break and we’re the away team having lost four on the trot.
“I feel for the boys. They’re trying really hard.”
Tisdale touched on the wastefulness and lack of clinical finishing that has defined their season so far.
He added: “It’s obvious to the supporters, me and the players themselves. We have to draw breath and work one game to the next.
“It’s a cliche but it’s true. What more can I do? I can’t sign new players, I can’t get players back quicker.
“I’m absolutely positive that once the wheels start turning again we’ll be OK, but it feels a mighty challenge when you’ve just lost five in a row.
“We wouldn’t be the first team to have a bad run, recover and then do well. I’m expecting us to do it.”
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