TROLLS CONTENT AFTER CUP WIN
Paul Trollope said today's FA Cup victory over Barnet was a fantastic achievement for the club.
The first team coach felt his side just about deserved the win at Underhill, but admitted he was less than satisfied with elements of the first half performance.
"The result is fantastic for the players, the fans and the club," Paul told bristolrovers.co.uk, "I wasn't too convinced about our first half performance, but we defended well and we're delighted to go through.
"Tuesday night was mentally and physically draining and that showed a bit at times, and with them playing 4-5-1 we found it difficult at times to get hold of the game. But when the ball came into our final third we dealt with it comfortably, and overall we were solid.
"Our forward play left a lot to be desired at times, but it's nice to be able to say after a game that we've come away from home and ground a result out. We've been away this season and played better than that and lost, and I know which I'd rather.
"Barnet passed the ball well and they've got some very good technical players. They made it difficult for us as we expected, and we needed Steve to make a good save from the penalty to keep us in it early on.
"We started the second half with a good tempo, and our goal was a good one. It was a good cross in from David Pipe, and Rickie was there in the six-yard box to score the type of goal we don't normally score.
"In the first half we played too many long balls forward, but we were better in the second half and in the end we could have had two or three."
Making the last 16 of the competition means Rovers have gone one better than last season's achievement of reaching round four.
"We were hugely frustrated last year when we went out at Derby in the fourth round because we played very well that day and thought we deserved something from the game," said Paul.
"To go one stage further is very pleasing, and we can now look forward to the fifth round draw. We say the same after every round, and we always look for a tie that we can realistically progress through, or one of the big ones away.
"We've not had one of the very big teams so far, but there's no reason if the draw is right that we can't make the quarter-finals our aim. That will be our target whoever we play next, but obviously if it's one of the big ones then it's a difficult ask."
Whatever Monday's draw throws up, Paul says his attention is firmly on Tuesday's League One trip to Crewe Alexandra.
"The league remains our priority and our focus," he said, "We can enjoy Monday's draw, but then remember we have a very important game on Tuesday night at Crewe, and we need to make sure we're properly prepared for that."














