Bristol Rovers defender Connor Taylor admits there is still room for him to improve when it comes to his impact in the final third after scoring his second goal of the season.
Taylor got the winner against Bradford City on Saturday, responding to manager Joey Barton's demand for more attacking contributions from the big centre-back by prodding home Paul Coutts' cross to complete the comeback for the Gas.
Taylor's aerial dominance in a defensive capacity is a crucial factor in the solidity and control the Gas have developed in their game in recent months, but the 20-year-old – on loan from Stoke City – is yet to score with his head this season and he is aware that is the next progression he needs to implement into his game.
“It's just arriving in the box at the right time,” he said. “Sometimes I’ll get in there a bit too soon. All defenders in this league, they just grab hold of you and it’s hard to get free. It’s all about timing and judging the flight of the ball early.
“The gaffer is always on me saying that I’ve got to add goals to my game with my height and to practice it in training and just get used to attacking balls from corners. Hopefully I can keep adding a few goals. There’s still room for me to improve my timing in the box aerially but I don’t care how they go in.”
With six games to go, Rovers are reaching new peaks in performance at a perfect time. Their winning run since mid-December started with chaotic, thrilling victories, but in recent weeks the Gas have enjoyed the control that Barton has long craved.
Even after falling behind against Bradford on Saturday, Rovers retained their control and their dominance eventually told to earn three points that propelled them to fifth in League Two.
“That was probably our best performance of the season,” Taylor added. “We were on the halfway line for the majority of the game. We just had full control of the game. As soon as they scored, we still fully believed we’d go on and win the game because we’ve got players that can pop up with goals all over the pitch.
“Sam’s (Finley) goal just sums up the quality we’ve got in the team and then if there’s going to be a winner there’s only one team that will score it. We kept probing and sustaining attacks, that’s what we work on to be patient. We had numerous other chances but we don’t care how they go in as long as we win the game.”
While the likes of Elliot Anderson, Antony Evans and Sam Finley catch the eye with their sensational contributions at the top end of the pitch, the unsung heroes of Rovers’ season are starting to see recognition for their endeavour.
Harry Anderson, Nick Anderton and James Connolly, just to name a few, have been instrumental in driving the Gas towards the play-offs, not always through flashy moments of individual ability but by being dependable and delivering what is asked of them. Taylor highlighted Paul Coutts, who has often gone under the radar but his impact on and off the pitch is not being lost on his teammates.
Barton confirmed this week Coutts had triggered a clause in his contract for a one-year extension, and Taylor believes the holding midfielder is an asset to the club.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Couttsy," Taylor said. “He’s been superb with me like he has with all the other lads. As soon as I came in, he helped just by giving me little tips.
"He’ll give you a kick up the backside if you need one. He always communicates in the right way to you and those players are just vital to your team because they make everything tick in there. He never gives the ball away. He just leads the middle of the park.
“It’s testament to the staff and the senior players really because they drive everything. We can see the finishing line is not far away but it’s when we want the season to finish and that’s down to us."
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