"Not ready to compete" - Don Goodman delivers frank Bristol Rovers statement amid Matt Taylor struggles | OneFootball

Don Goodman believes The Gas need to reassess their expectations in League One

Don Goodman believes that major improvements are needed at Bristol Rovers if they are even going to consider becoming a top-half League One side, and expectations need to be tempered as a result.

The Gas currently find themselves languishing in 16th spot in the third tier ahead of their clash with Crawley Town this weekend, having picked up ten points from their last ten league games.

After failing to pick up a single point from their four matches in September, Rovers have seen off the likes of Charlton Athletic, Burton Albion and Shrewsbury Town of late, which has eased the pressure on boss Matt Taylor.

The former Exeter City boss has commented about the ‘interesting’ atmosphere around the club and the expectations of the fanbase, and Goodman believes those at the Memorial Ground need to be more realistic in their hopes for the team.

Bristol Rovers are not ready to compete in the top-half of League One

Since earning promotion from League Two in the 2021/22 season, Rovers have been comfortable in the third tier, without pushing any higher than lower mid-table.

With this being their third season at the level, there had been hopes within the fanbase that the team could kick on towards a more competitive finish this year, but early results have proven that feat is a lot easier said than done.

While the West Country outfit have seen off two of the sides scrambling at the bottom of the division in Burton and Shrewsbury, they have regularly come undone against sides chasing promotion, with Huddersfield, Peterborough, Barnsley and Wycombe all taking three points off them this season.

With that in mind, Goodman believes that Rovers need to accept their predicament, with added quality in the squad needed if they are going to challenge near the top anytime soon.

The former West Bromwich Albion man told Football League World, via Gambling Zone: “You're looking at a team that has finished 17th and 15th across the last two seasons. I'm not sure anyone can really have expected Bristol Rovers to finish towards the top end of League One this season.

“When looking at their results against the better teams, the deficit in quality is clear too. They've played seven games against teams in the top half, losing six and drawing one. That in itself tells that Rovers are not ready to compete in the upper regions of the third tier."

Bristol Rovers need to improve in all areas

Rovers are being hampered by issues at both ends of the pitch of late, with a lack of clear-cut chances highlighting their lack of creativity in the final third, with an xG of 1.12 created per 90, one of the lowest in the division.

Not only that, but issues at the other end of the pitch are costing them dear, with no other side conceding more than their 1.54 xG per game, with an over-reliance on Josh Griffiths to keep them in games.

The West Bromwich Albion loanee's 53 saves ranks higher than any goalkeeper in the division this season, and the fact that only three shot-stoppers have conceded more goals speaks volumes for the amount of action he has had to deal with.

There are plenty of red flags there for Goodman, who believes there is plenty of work to be done before Rovers can consider themselves a side that can be pushing towards the top six in the division.

He continued: “They also must improve at both ends of the pitch, having conceded the second-highest XG in League One and creating the third-lowest XG. While it may not sound exciting, the current season looks likely to play out in a similar fashion to the previous two campaigns and in a mid-table finish.

“Whether Bristol Rovers are underperforming, however, depends on the expectations fans had at the start of the campaign. What's overwhelmingly clear, though, is that they do not look ready to compete at the top end of the league anytime soon.”