Matt Taylor targeting 60-point mark as Bristol Rovers conclude campaign with Wigan Athletic trip

Matt Taylor wants full focus to be on Bristol Rovers' final game of the season at Wigan Athletic this weekend before attentions turn to the major summer overhaul that is expected at the football club during the off-season.

Rovers can still reach the 60-point mark with a victory at the DW Stadium on Saturday which would also see them finish above their hosts in the League One table. It is already confirmed that the Gas cannot finish lower than 15th but also can't go higher than 13th with a top half finish now out of reach.

The Gas manager is due to report to work at The Quarters all of next week despite the season being over as plans for summer recruitment and the start of pre-season continue to take shape while the retained list is expected to be released on Tuesday. However, although what happens ahead of next season is at the forefront of every Gashead's mind, Taylor is looking for his team to finish the campaign as strongly as possible.

Asked how he's feeling now the end of a turbulent season is close to its conclusion, the Rovers boss said: "Interesting in terms of going into the end of this schedule and this season. We want to finish this season strongly, we want to get to that 60-point mark, we want to finish above our opponents at the weekend. But obviously it has been a tough few months.

"So much inconsistency and turbulence just in the way it’s gone, results wise but also the way the club’s been and I generally think this hangover feeling or this headache in the back of everyone’s minds about what’s to come at the end of the season and uncertainty. I think you’ve seen that with our performances with the players, with everything associated with this club and probably fans alike. But then when the end of one season appears, it’s how quickly then the focus will turn to next season but I want all the focus going into Wigan at the weekend and then my answer after the game will be totally different to right now.

"We’re a bit limited and hindered at the moment," Taylor added, "in terms of where that good comes from and what that good looks like but I was actually really pleased with the second half performance against Peterborough. Such a strong team we tried to get into and we had the best chances. We should have really gotten level in that game and then you never know, it’s in the balance. But then to concede a second so late on, just that feel of how that home game ended was a real shame.

"Going away from home to a team in relatively good form who have had ups and downs this season. It would be great to finish on a positive note."

The season as a whole will be reflected on as a disappointment and a missed opportunity by many but its transitional nature has undoubtedly made the job of managing Bristol Rovers tougher over the past couple of months. For virtually the entire second half of the season, it has felt as though focus has been directed more towards what happens once this campaign finishes as opposed to the present. As shown by the likes of Lincoln City, Leyton Orient, Wycombe Wanderers and Exeter City, an opportunity was there for Rovers to climb the league table and, in Lincoln's case, threaten the play-off positions but it wasn't taken.

Admittedly, a significant proportion of the squad have played with their immediate futures hanging in the balance which has undoubtedly made the past few months difficult with uncertainty looming. However, following Saturday that will all be put to bed as focus shifts towards a summer that the Gas have to get spot on from a recruitment perspective.

Although it can see Rovers climb up a few places with a positive result, nothing that happens against Wigan will cause major change regarding to how the campaign as a whole is perceived but a victory would take the Gas up to the 60-point mark which breaks another boundary.

"I still think the season will be perceived as not quite fulfilling our potential or not quite getting to the expected or the heights that we aimed for at the start or even when I first came in," Taylor admitted when asked if winning could at all change the way in which the season is reflected on. "I think we have to be honest and respectful in terms of that, even if we were to win at the weekend.

"But 60 points is a certain barrier at any level and probably puts you right in the middle of this league. It is a difficult one because I do feel like we’ve left a lot of points out there and more than the three points that we’re talking about this weekend.

"I’d like us to get to 60 points and I’d like us to finish the season strongly and on a high. The performances in the last couple of games have generally been okay if not getting better and better and I want the team to perform. But I think we all know that there are a few limitations in the squad, to no fault of their own, that’s important, but what I will say is whatever the reflection is I don’t think it’s fair to fully judge the players on the pitch at the moment when the team’s obviously weaker than what it might be at different stages."