Exclusive: Pundit issues verdict on Matt Taylor's Bristol Rovers future | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has given his view on Matt Taylor's future at Bristol Rovers amid increasing criticism from supporters.

Pundit Carlton Palmer believes Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor should be given more time, but he admits he is under pressure after his side's poor start to the season in League One.

Taylor replaced Joey Barton at the Memorial Stadium in December, but he struggled to make an impact after his arrival, and Bristol Rovers finished in an underwhelming 15th place last season.

It was a disappointing end to the campaign for the Gas as they won just two of their final 11 games, but Taylor was allowed to remain in charge, and he was strongly backed in the summer transfer window, with 16 new signings joining the club, including the likes of Josh Griffiths, Taylor Moore, Jamie Lindsay, Isaac Hutchinson, Promise Omochere, Ruel Sotiriou and Shaq Forde.

Rovers would have been hoping that the summer rebuild would inspire a change of fortunes, but it has been an inconsistent start to the season, and Taylor's men currently sit 17th in the table, just six points clear of the relegation zone.

The Gas needed extra time to get past National League South side Weston-super-Mare in the FA Cup on Saturday, and while they eventually won 3-1 to progress to the second round, supporters made their frustrations clear during the game.

Rovers are back in action when they host fifth-placed Lincoln City this weekend, and defeat would further increase the scrutiny on Taylor, who has won just 17 of his 50 games in charge of the club, drawing five and losing 28.

Carlton Palmer on Matt Taylor's Bristol Rovers future

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Palmer insisted that Rovers should not sack Taylor if they lose to Lincoln on Saturday, but he admitted that the 42-year-old is facing a crucial few weeks as the pressure continues to build.

"It's been a disappointing time for Bristol Rovers, and in particular Matt Taylor," Palmer said.

"Bristol Rovers are down to 17th place on 16 points, they'd had seven defeats this season, which is very, very disappointing from their point of view.

"They're currently seven points off a play-off place and six points off a relegation place, two wins could significantly change the outlook of the table.

"They face Lincoln City, who are fifth in the table, next, and the games are coming thick and fast.

"You are always under pressure when you don't get results as a manager, you lose one or two games and you're under pressure because people will question if the manager is going to be able to turn things around.

"I don't think it's all doom and gloom, they're not getting turned over.

"They beat Shrewsbury, then then lost 1-0 to Reading and 3-2 to Exeter in the EFL Trophy, and then they won 3-1 in the FA Cup.

"They're not getting turned over massively by three or four goals, so it's a little tweak here and there that could literally see the results turn overnight.

"Of course Matt is under pressure, every manager is under pressure when you don't get results, I don't think a defeat to Lincoln at the weekend would spell the end, but with the growing frustration of supporters, a good performance and a good result at home would ease the pressure on him.

"They've got Lincoln this weekend and then the following weekend they've got Crawley at home, so it's a big, big couple of weeks for Matt Taylor.

"Four points out of two games might just satisfy the locals."

Bristol Rovers could soon face big Matt Taylor call

Given that Lincoln are flying high towards the top of the table, Palmer is right that it would be harsh for Rovers to sack Taylor if his side were to lose on Saturday.

There is no doubt that it has been a disappointing start to the season for the Gas, and it was a frustrating afternoon in the FA Cup against Weston-super-Mare on Saturday, but after four consecutive defeats in September, they have won three of their last five league games, which represents a clear improvement.

Rovers may be 17th in the table, but as Palmer says, they are only seven points from the play-off places, and if they were able to put a run of victories together, the picture could look significantly better.

However, Taylor's record since his arrival at the Memorial Stadium does not make for good reading, and with supporters remaining unconvinced by him, failure to pick up results in the back-to-back home games coming up against Lincoln and Crawley Town could give the board a big decision to make.