Bristol Rovers & Darrell Clarke will hope to avoid Port Vale fate v Walsall | OneFootball

Bristol Rovers and Darrell Clarke will hope to avoid this Walsall and Port Vale embarrassment

Bristol Rovers meet table toppers Walsall this weekend with the Gas in full throttle on their drive up the League Two standings. Victory against Salford City last weekend made it a run of eight matches unbeaten in all competitions and should give the Gas full belief that they can bag a point or three from their upcoming trip to the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium this Saturday.

The Saddlers are in strong form themselves and Rovers manager, Darrell Clarke, will need no reminders of the threat they possess, having not only managed the West Midlands side, but also returned there not too long thereafter with Port Vale.

Bristol Rovers continue unbeaten run with victory over Salford City

Following a dismal start to their return to League Two, the Gas have gone on a remarkable run of form. Bristol Rovers began the season with four straight defeats, including a 2-0 home loss to Cambridge United in the EFL Cup. And Gasheads were fearing the worst after a 3-1 league defeat to Chesterfield left Rovers languishing near the bottom of the table. That would, however, turn out to be the last time the Gas have lost a game up to now. Rovers began to pick up steam as August drew to a close, and they would go the entire month of September without losing a game — seeing themselves climb into the play-off spots. Darrell Clarke recently praised the character and togetherness in the squad, likely contributing to this turnaround in form.

Post Salford, Clarke told media: “Credit to the boys, and the whole group as well. It was lovely to see the seven players we’ve got injured there on the side cheering the boys as they’ve come off the pitch. That is proper togetherness. We needed that in abundance today because Salford City are a really good team.”

Speaking to Bristol Live, Clarke added: “Yeah, the pleasing thing coming off is the players that are injured at the side of the pitch, there’s a good togetherness in the group. That’s proper spirit when you see that, because that’s what’s needed through the course of it, not just in the good moments, it’s in the bad moments and when things aren’t going well, like in the first three or four games of the season. I never felt that these boys weren’t with us, and knowing what we’re trying to work on, so credit to the group, credit to everyone pulling in the direction that we need to be going in.”

It’s a stark contrast from the last campaign, during which the side were criticised for the lack of spirit and endeavour and marks a stunning turnaround in form for the BS7 outfit who had been on a horrifying and near record-breaking run of losses. A turnaround credited to both the new playing personnel but also the managers' adaptability and willingness to try different methods, with growing evidence that his side are most effective with four at the back. Clarke is known for preferring to play with three.

Darrell Clarke back on familiar ground as the Gas visit the Saddlers

Looking back, Clarke left Walsall for Port Vale with the Saddlers sitting in mid-table and several places above his then new side. He had been criticised by some for his tactics and for his discreet manner when it comes to talking about squad matters in public. And it’s fair to say many Walsall supporters are still sore from the way in which Clarke left the club, with their former manager causing some upset with his comments following his departure. Clarke made reference to him not being Houdini at a time when Walsall were in a difficult financial position. And suggesting he had made the move to be more successful – an ambition he, of course, realised as his Vale side would later gain promotion.

Clarke told the media at his first Vale press conference: "It is always a difficult situation when you are leaving good people who were running Walsall. I get out of bed to be successful. That’s what I’m about. I want success, and sometimes you have to take a move that I think gives me a better chance of success."

He continued: "Walsall was a fantastic club but the financial predicament, losing best players, having to restart but still expecting to finish in the top seven. Well, I apologise but I am not Houdini."

Darrell Clarke won't want a repeat of the result which left him feeling "embarassed"

Clarke's first taste of returning to his former side was with Port Vale as the Saddlers visited Vale Park in November 2021. It wouldn’t be a very happy reunion for the now Bristol Rovers manager as his Vale team suffered a one-nil defeat. Clarke's decision to leave Walsall meant there was plenty of ill-feeling from the Saddlers fans towards their former manager, who labelled the defeat by his former club as an embarrassment.

In his post-match interview, Clarke said: "I will mind my language but I am embarrassed, my players should be embarrassed, my staff should be embarrassed for putting on a performance like that. We were poor, we were bullied, we were rubbish with the ball.

"It is not acceptable. It is one of those nights and we have to take our medicine but also the players know that isn’t acceptable.

On his frustrations from the match he continued: ”Everything about it. Bullied, weak, making angles, passing, quality, you name it, none of it was there tonight from what we have shown from the season so far."

Clarke will certainly want to avoid a repeat of that Port Vale scenario happening to Bristol Rovers, which could provide extra motivation for the win.

League leaders Walsall will present a strong challenge for the Gas with both sides looking to cement their places as promotion challengers. No doubt Clarke will not want or even expect this Bristol Rovers team to be bullied on the pitch, though he did comment post Salford that the quality in the first half had dropped from recent standards — presenting further motivation for the Gas to be at their best as they meet the Saddlers on Saturday.

Both sides will be looking to continue their momentum so we could be in store for another dramatic weekend, with Clarke sure to be centre stage.