Dave Horseman has declared that Bristol Rovers needed to reinstall some trust and faith in the group after the Gas drew 1-1 at home to Wrexham in their first game since the sacking of Matt Taylor.

Horseman is currently in interim charge of Rovers until they can find a new manager, with their search experiencing a setback after an appeal against a rejected work permit for German coach Michael Wimmer proved unsuccessful.

The Gas struggled in the first half with Elliot Lee slotting home the opening goal after a fantastic through ball by ex-Bristol City midfielder Matty James and the visitors could have added to their advantage.

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However, the introduction of Luke Thomas midway through the first half and then the decision to bring on Joel Senior and Promise Omochere at half-time made a notable difference to Rovers' attacking endeavours.

Horseman's side managed to clinch a point as Omochere headed home a floated delivery by Thomas with four minutes of regular time remaining.

Reflecting on the draw, the Gas interim boss said: "It's good. Listen, we needed something out of the game today. We needed at least a point, ideally three, but we also needed to put together some sort of performance and probably some trust and faith back into the group a little bit.

"Obviously we need to create more chances. It's clear for everybody to see. But we also need to show that we want to fight and our passion for the badge and, in patches, I thought we did both today.

"They're obviously a very good team. They've spent a fortune and spent it really well so to come away with a point today I think is a good result."

Rovers needed to change something at the break after another drab half as struggles to offer any sort of creativity continued.

Defender Taylor Moore didn't look comfortable out of position at right-wing-back while Scott Sinclair was also sacrificed with Horseman explaining that the decision was made because he had gotten his initial tactical approach wrong.

"I said to Scotty and Taylor Moore it's not them, it's me," he added. "I thought the game might look a little bit different first half in terms of I thought they'd open up the side of the pitch, maybe the wind and stuff didn't help, and I could use Scotty's pace to get down the side of [Eoghan] O'Connell. We never quite got there.

"I think the passes became too long and straight. We gave the ball away too much and then the anxiety in our game you could see and then we give the ball away too much and then all of a sudden the momentum completely went from the first few minutes.

"Taylor Moore, in all fairness, is the best lad in the world. He's not on a right-wing-back, I know that. [James] McLean is a really strong player, goes on the outside and can hit the ball in at the far post. So the plan was that actually he takes him out the game and then as the game develops, then we bring on and we open up and we go for the game a little bit more.

"In all fairness, McLean didn't really do anything but we needed more with the ball, which Joel as a natural right-back, right-wing-back, probably brings to the team. So I think him and Prom made a big difference because I think the game really suited them.

"As the first half went on, it clearly wasn't working. I could see that. Everybody could see that. Listen, no secret. So it was time just to make sure that we give them a bit of a problem and I think to be fair, they did and as the second half went on, we got stronger and stronger, I actually thought. Probably with five more minutes, maybe we could have won it. So yeah, the subs made a massive impact today."

After a recent setback in the search for a new permanent manager, alongside the fact that Christmas is less than a week away, it is now expected that Horseman will now likely lead the team for the Boxing Day trip to Exeter City.

However, when asked whether he knows what the latest in regards to the managerial search, he admitted: "No, nothing and to be fair, I've not bothered asking because the players need somebody at the moment, as in me, just focused on the football, because I think in football there can be a lot of outside noise and with social media and everything else that goes on, there's too much speculation and minds wonder.

"I mean, there's a lot. We've been a little bit short staffed this week so I've had quite a bit on. So no, I know nothing and hopefully soon, but they've got to make the right decision. So I'll do the best I can until somebody comes in."

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