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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
David Byrom

How Graham Coughlan turned Bristol Rovers' form around and led them to League One safety

Bristol Rovers are safe from relegation following Saturday's goalless draw with Fleetwood Town.

The Gas have secured their safety with a game to spare, completing an impressive turnaround under manager Graham Coughlan.

Coughlan took over from Darrell Clarke in mid-December, when the Gas were four points off safety and in a poor run of form.

Here is how the new Rovers boss turned things around and helped lead the side to safety.

Hard work in training

Graham Coughlan leads Bristol Rovers in a warm-up (Ryan Hiscott/JMP)

Coughlan is a stickler for hard work on the training ground. Players have spoken about how the boss has raised training levels since taking charge of the Gas, and he has also given them punishing regimes away from the pitch.

When Rovers went 10 days without a game due to an FA Cup clash, the players ended up in a boxing gym, with a couple being sick due to how hard they were made to work. There was no let up for them the following day, with a punishing training session involving a long run, as Coughlan tried to break up the time without a game.

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More recently, the Gas have been taking part in a spin class in order to keep their fitness levels up. It all points to a manager who wants his players to give 100 per cent in training in order to get 100 per cent out of them on the pitch.

Players in from the cold

Gavin Reilly of Bristol Rovers celebrates scoring a late equaliser against Plymouth (Ryan Hiscott/JMP)

Gavin Reilly, Alex Jakubiak and Alex Rodman were three players who struggled for regular game time under Clarke, but Coughlan has made use of all three during his time in charge.

Clarke sent a stern message to both Reilly and Jakubiak after a Checkatrade Trophy defeat to Exeter City, demanding more out of them, but, aside from a win over Swansea City in the same competition, neither got much of a chance to turn their form around.

Yet Coughlan brought both players in from the cold and, whilst neither has been prolific for the new manager, they have both chipped in with some vital goals.

Meanwhile, Rodman has spoken of the confidence he and other players have received from Coughlan's decision to allow them continuity if they are playing well.

Recruitment

Clarke's final press conference was explosive for a number of reasons - some of which will be covered later - but it was also noteworthy in the fact he said there would not be much business in January. Yet Coughlan was proactive in the winter market, letting a number of players players leave in order to make way for new signings.

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Some of this involved gambling on things to come, such as allowing Stefan Payne to leave before securing a replacement striker, but he was rewarded by Jonson Clarke-Harris' arrival, with the hit man's goals helping them earn survival. Not every decision paid off - Kyle Bennett's departure left the club without a proper left-winger, for example - but the arrival of fresh faces revitalised the club at a crucial time.

If Coughlan continues this trend in the summer transfer window, it could well be an interesting couple of months ahead for Rovers.

Defensive stability

Tom Lockyer of Bristol Rovers wins a header above Ched Evans of Fleetwood Town (Matt McNulty/JMP)

Coughlan was originally brought to the club in order to help Rovers defensively, and he has certainly done that. Even with Coughlan as defensive coach, it was noticeable how few goals the Gas were conceding this season, and that has only continued since he was appointed manager.

Eighteen clean sheets this season is a remarkable achievement for a club battling relegation and the 49 goals they have conceded is the joint-lowest of any team outside the top five this season. It should give the Gas a real foundation to build on for next year.

Harmonious atmosphere

As mentioned, Clarke's final press conference was an explosive one. He said he could not see the new stadium or training ground being built while he was in charge and predicted that the budget would be cut next season. Clarke had a right to question what was happening at the club due to the promises that were made when he rejected the chance to join Leeds in favour of signing a new contract at the Gas, but the club had a healthy budget for this season, and all of the off-field talk felt like a distraction.

There are still unanswered questions over the prospect of a new training ground and stadium, but Coughlan has not had a bad word to say about Rovers' hierarchy and it has helped to create a more harmonious feeling around the club. It has helped focus attentions to on-the-pitch matters.

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