Rovers’ matchday magazine RTID caught up with Welsh midfielder David Cotterill ahead of the game against Nottingham Forest last Saturday.
David was an influential player in the success that this club achieved last season, and has started this one in fine form going hand-in-hand with Rovers solid start to the campaign.
David, how the season has been so far?
It’s been good. We started off really well so can take a lot of positives, even though we lost against Blackpool, we then went on to win at Blackburn and draw at Wigan. I think we’ve done alright overall although I do think our last home game was disappointing. We thought that we would win the game but it wasn’t to be and shows what a tough league this is.
You’re not quite on target with where you want to be goal wise. Are you working on that in training?
Yes, I’ve been working on that a lot as I want to get my goal tally up. I’ve got four goal assists now but it’s important that I can contribute to goals, as I did last season with the ten I got in League One. We practice shooting and crossing most days at Cantley Park.
How do you feel the team has gelled together with the new manager and the players that have come in?
I think it’s gone well. I think everyone knows what the manager and his staff want. We want to work hard and when we get the ball we want to keep it. The new lads that have come in have settled in really well and have fitted in well with the camaraderie we have. One of the plus points of playing here is the togetherness we have as a squad.
One of the things we’ve got this season that we didn’t have in the last one is the international breaks. As a player would you rather play or be off?
I think if you’re losing, it’s probably a good time to have a little break but if you’re on a winning run, it’s probably not so good. Hopefully, I will be called up for Wales again and I will be able to play them but I do think it’s important for the players to have a bit of rest as well.
As you’ve got a new manager, he will have brought in a different style of training. How do you feel the training has been going?
It’s been good; I like it. Obviously, the new manager is tough but you can tell from the way he played that he wants everybody to work their socks off and give everything on the pitch. I think that’s what we always try to do. I think especially in the first few games our style of football was very good so that’s the style the manager is going to be looking at, where we work hard and look to pass the ball.
What are you personally looking to do more of this season?
I’m going to look to get as many assists and goals as I can and help the team as much as possible. If I’m having a good game, I still want to work my socks off for the team as well.