These are exciting times for football in Bristol, with City riding high towards the top of the Championship and Rovers through to the quarter finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 50 years. The Pirates have already knocked Southampton and Fulham out of the competition so a home draw against West Brom should hold no fears for Paul Trollope's men. One player who knows all about life in both halves of Bristol is former City defender Danny Coles, who arrived at the Memorial Ground after a spell at Hull City. Givemefootball's Mark Shail caught up with Coles to get his reaction on the yesterday's quarter final draw.
Q:WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE QUARTER FINAL DRAW?
A:I think it's a decent draw for us. It's a home tie against a side outside the Premiership so it gives us a realistic chance of winning the game and getting into the semi finals.
Q:AFTER BEATING SOUTHAMPTON AND FULHAM YOU MUST BE FULL OF CONFIDENCE?
A:Exactly, the place is really buzzing at the moment after beating those two sides and I'm sure West Brom won't fancy coming down here. I know they are going well in the Championship but anything can happen in a one-off game.
Q:DID YOU DESERVE TO BEAT SOUTHAMPTON AT THE WEEKEND?
A:Without a doubt. We created the best chances in the game and in fact we were a little bit unlucky not to have won by more goals. I think their management team were disappointed with their players' display because they didn't really look up for it and the result probably flattered them in the end.
Q:AND THINGS ARE GOING WELL IN THE LEAGUE AS WELL?
A:Yes, we're on a good run at the moment, I think we've only lost one of our last 13 or 14 matches. We've still got some catching up to do because we've got a few games in hand but if we an win those matches we will then put ourselves in the play-off picture. Those games in hand are going to be crucial but it's all in our own hands.
Q:IS THERE A DANGER THAT THE PLAYERS MIGHT TAKE THEIR FOOT OFF THE PEDAL IN THE LEAGUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE ONE EYE ON THE CUP QUARTER FINAL?
A:I don't think so because we all want to play in that quarter final and the only way we can do that is by playing well in the league matches and staying in the team. It's a few weeks yet before that FA Cup game so now we can focus on the league for a while and try to push ourselves up the table.
Q:THINGS SEEM TO HAVE GONE WELL FOR YOU SINCE YOU JOINED THE CLUB FROM HULL?
A:It took me a few weeks to settle in but I've now got my feet under the table and am enjoying my football. I had a difficult time at Hull after being out for a long time with a knee injury and when I came back the manager told me I wasn't in his long-term plans. I then had a loan spell at Hartlepool, where I played against Rovers, but I feel much settled now I have signed here on a permanent basis.
Q:HOW HAVE THE CROWD TAKEN TO YOU GIVEN THAT YOU ARE A FORMER CITY PLAYER?
A:They've been spot on, really good. I know there is a City connection but I think if a player performs well for any club the supporters don't really mind which club he came from.
