Ben Garner has apologised to Bristol Rovers fans after Saturday’s dismal 4-1 defeat to Fleetwood Town at the Mem.
The game was defined by an awful first half from the Gas, which Garner described as “unacceptable”.
Fleetwood took the lead on the half hour when Callum Camps’ free kick bamboozled Jordi van Stappershoef – starting in goal with Anssi Jaakkola on international duty.
Paddy Madden doubled the lead before half time from a poorly-defended corner, and although Josh Grant pulled one back with 30 minutes to play Fleetwood wrapped up the points late on as Camps completed a brace before Ched Evans rolled in a penalty.
The defeat saw Rovers drop to 18th place, three points clear of the League One relegation zone.
“The first 45 minutes were unacceptable,” Garner said. “The sheer basics of the game: competing, rolling your sleeves up and working hard, it wasn’t good enough.
“I apologise to the supporters. There were some strong words at half time because we expect working hard to be the bare minimum.
“We were nowhere near where we should’ve been and it was nowhere near good enough.
“We just weren’t competing. First balls, second balls, they were winning everything. We had people trying to do each other’s jobs rather than just focusing on our own and didn’t pass the ball well.
“There was nothing good in the first half, nowhere near where we should be.”
The result was met with justified anger and frustration from supporters, and the Rovers boss accepts he and his players must put it right over the coming games.
“Today, it’s just an apology,” Garner continued. There’s no point saying anything else. I’ve got to front up and admit it’s plainly not acceptable.
“I understand the frustrations. I know from speaking to fans and people that live in the area what they expect and what they want, and that first 45 minutes isn’t it.
“There’s no point in me trying to spin it or go around it, it just wasn’t good enough and any frustration this evening is fully justified.
“We have to react and make up for it in the coming weeks.”
Fleetwood’s opener was the product of a goalkeeping error, with van Stappershoef well positioned but failing to get a glove on Camps’ wobbling free kick
“It surprised me it went in,” Garner admitted. I haven’t seen it back but I’m disappointed with the goal.
“That shouldn’t go in, and that puts them one up.”
