Video: Dickov on facing Bristol this weekend

Rovers return from the international break with a tough trip to League One high-fliers Bristol City on Saturday, with Dickov’s men putting their 100 per cent away record in 2014-15 on the line following league victories at Yeovil and Colchester and Capital One Cup triumphs at York City and Watford.

At home, there remains work to do, with Rovers having taken just one point from three matches, losing to Port Vale and Oldham.

While conscious that represents an area that needs improving, Dickov, who stressed before the season that there would be ‘ups and down’ in 2014-15, with Rovers getting to grips with the financial realities of relegation and the collapse of John Ryan and Louis Tomlinson’s takeover, is relatively content.

Dickov, whose pre-season was truncated said: “It’s been a decent start.

“I would have taken four wins, one draw and two defeats from our first seven games and that is not being negative and things are not going to happen in six, seven or eight games for us this season.”

On the weekend test at Ashton Gate, with Dickov pitting his wits against Robins boss Steve Cotterill, who he worked with during his brief stint at Leicester, the Rovers chief added: “It’s a great one for us.

“We are away from home against a team unbeaten in the league and unbeaten ten games and one of the favourites to go up, rightly so.

“It will be a good marker on where we are.”