A much-changed Bristol Rovers side shipped four first-half goals away at League Two side Swindon Town in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy
Matt Taylor described Bristol Rovers’ first-half display away at Swindon Town as one of his most embarrassing moments as a manager. The Gas lost 4-0 in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy after giving up four goals to a League Two squad that has undergone significant transformation.
The League One victory over Burton Albion on Saturday resulted in nine changes for the Rovers boss. However, players like Luke Thomas, Taylor Moore, and Connor Taylor remain in the starting lineup, and all ten outfield players have started at least one league game this season.
Although the game came in a competition that many supporters express little care for, the first half performance and eventual result will go down as one of the poorest moments produced by a Gas side for some time and Taylor certainly felt it was up there in regards to his managerial career.
“Worse than miserable,” the Gas manager exclaimed post-match. “I think it’s probably the most embarrassed I’ve been of a team in that first half. Just the way we went about our work. Wasn’t to the desired level, the acceptable level, a professional level. But, as difficult as tonight was, also a bit more clarity and hopefully a bit more clarity for the watching world that the squad probably isn’t quite where people think it is and the players aren’t quite where we need them to be. Collectively, tonight we were second best.”
Rovers enjoyed a positive week last week with back-to-back league victories over Charlton Athletic and Burton Albion with pressure growing on Taylor on the back of four consecutive defeats.
The 42-year-old was met with some frustrated words from travelling supporters at full-time but had strong words to say about the players involved against Swindon with a significant number of changes made.
