Rovers on par with Luton to AFC Telford boss
AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson today claimed Bristol Rovers are up there with Luton Town as the biggest club he has seen play non-league football.
Watson takes his Bucks side to the Memorial Ground on Saturday, where over 7,000 spectators attended their opening day game at home to Grimsby Town.
The Pirates are playing outside of the Football League for the first time in 94 years and are flustered, a goalless draw against Grimsby preceding away losses to Barnet and Altrincham.
Watson took his Southport side to Luton in four of the five seasons the Hatters spent in the Conference Premier, losing every game at Kenilworth Road but beating them twice on home turf.
The Bucks boss is up for another big challenge this weekend and is hoping to catch Rovers on the back-foot, with two teams looking for their first win of the season.
He said: "I am massively surprised to see Bristol Rovers at the level. I don't know who is the biggest club, them or Luton Town, but they are definitely the biggest two to have played in the Conference.
"There will be huge pressure on them, it's only three games into the season but they wouldn't expect to be sat on one point, although we wouldn't either.
"I would prefer to play them now, when they are in this position and still unsure of themselves. Maybe that won't happen when they find their feet at the level.
"I would always fancy my teams to finish strong in the second-half of the season, that's what always seems to happen."
Watson was among the crowd as Rovers were beaten 2-1 at Altrincham, who came up with champions Telford from the Conference North last season.
He said: "I went to watch them at Altrincham last Saturday, as we weren't playing until the Sunday, and I thought Alty deserved to win, although they did show flashes in the second-half.
"They are expected to be there or thereabouts for promotion at the end of the season, but they already have to ground to make up and it's not easy, as we know from last year.
"We never really hit our stride until after Christmas, we had spells at the start where we won games but didn't play well, At the back end, we were really performing.
"And sometimes there will be teams who are not as good as you, but find a way to win. Oxford City finished in the relegation places and did that to us."
