McGhee praises Pirates faithful

Bristol Rovers manager Mark McGhee praised the travelling fans for their support following his side's 2-1 win at Exeter City.

The Pirates had yet to win this campaign and started this west country derby as underdogs, but an early strike from Dave Clarkson helped settle their nerves after some sloppy play by Exeter full-back Craig Woodman. Former Rovers favourite Jamie Cureton levelled for Exeter in first-half stoppage time with a neat turn and finish, but despite going on to dominate the second half it was the visitors who won the game when Eliot Richards' shot slipped through the fingers of Exeter goalkeeper Artur Krysiak at his near post. "We deserved to win the game. There was a lot of work put into the game and we have won it by a good individual goal," McGhee said. "We will hope to build on that and we are very pleased. David Clarkson really deserved the first goal, he drove us from a wide position early on and then played up front. His work was unbelievable and he put in a great shift. "If I sign a striker and it gives the strikers who don't play a rocket I am happy with that. Eliot came on and got the winner. But it was as much about the whole squad and the squad all have to count now. Eliot came on and got a goal and put in a good shift at the end of the game. "We need to build on the victory, but we will have to improve on this performance. The fans came down in their numbers and it was fantastic, they gave us real support. During this difficult period where we have played well and played poorly they have stood behind us and they have helped us get the victory."