Darrell Clarke believes 10-man Bristol Rovers deserved more at Southend

Posted Sunday, May 06, 2018 by PA

Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke felt his side could have taken more than a point from Southend despite playing the entire second half with 10 men.

Rovers midfielder OIlie Clarke was sent off three minutes before the break in a drab 0-0 draw at Roots Hall.

And Clarke felt the red card changed the way Rovers had to play.

“We want to play the game in the right way but when you’re down to 10 men for a long period like that you have to be the spoilers of the party to be honest,” Clarke said.

“We had to try and make sure we got something from the game but we did still have a couple of chances in the second half.

“As the game developed we got forward a bit more and maybe we were unfortunate to not nick one.

“Southend will be disappointed not to have troubled our keeper with the possession they had but Chris (Powell) has come in here and done a great job.

“Clubs make a change and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but he’s steadied the ship and kicked on so full credit to him.”

The Shrimpers had gone into the game on the back of three successive wins and came closest to scoring in the 35th minute when Simon Cox volleyed Dru Yearwood’s pass onto the crossbar.

At the start of the second half, Southend winger Michael Kightly saw a 25 yard free-kick pushed to safety by Rovers goalkeeper Sam Slocombe before Theo Robinson fired Elvis Bwomono’s right-wing cross wide of the target from close range.

The Pirates replied with Shrimpers goalkeeper Mark Oxley producing a great save from Ellis Harrison’s well-struck effort before defender Tony Craig saw his header bounce back off the right post.

Shrimpers boss Powell felt the game showed there was little left to play for.

“It was a typical end of season game with nothing on it other than pride,” Powell said.

“It would have been great to get four wins in a row but I didn’t want us to lose and we got another point and a clean sheet.

“We probed where we could, we hit the bar and they were down to 10 men so it was a bit of a rearguard action from them which I’m sure the manager will be pleased with.

“We lost both of our central midfielders which didn’t help and we ended up with a makeshift partnership in there.

“But everyone should be pleased with what we’ve done. I am and the supporters should be too because when I came in we were fifth from bottom.

“At that stage if we had been offered 10th then everyone would definitely have taken it.”