'Very close' - Bristol Rovers offer Chris Martin contract update as in-form striker scores again in Blackpool loss

Bristol Rovers boss Matt Taylor gave an update regarding Chris Martin's contract situation stating a deal is "very close" after the striker scored in the Gas' 2-1 defeat at home to Blackpool.

The Scotsman has scored 10 league goals for Rovers this season in just 13 starts and has been pivotal for his side since joining the club. When asked about how close Martin's contract was from being signed, Taylor said: "I hope there is, I think there is, I don’t think its official as yet but I think we're very close to it."

Martin scored in the first-half against Neil Critchley's men and now has six goals in his last six for Rovers. "Same again I think he's been one of our stand up performers in recent weeks," said Taylor. "Still we've got to get more service to him, the amount of crosses in the second-half wasn't enough, when they take the strength of the middle of pitch we have got to be able to work the ball into wide area and deliver it."

Taylor was irritated at full-time as he feels the team are too heavily reliant on the centre forward's goals and calls for other forward players to start stepping up. "I'm sure he's frustrated because he'll be feeling that if he gets more service in the form that he's in he'll be real handful," said Taylor.

Martin joined as a free agent at the end of the summer and played his football at QPR last season. "We have got to also remember that he (Martin) having not done a pre-season and this club having a lot of games in quick succession, will take its toll. Pre-season dictates everything in terms of the way your season pans out but we're asking him to do a certain job because he's our best option at the top and the pitch at this moment in time."

Gasheads will be praying that the former Norwich City player extends his stay, as he's been in such good form since joining the League One outfit. "He's leading the line really well but we've got to take some pressure off him," said Taylor. "Other people have got really got stand up and be counted in terms of that situation."

The Gas are back at the Memorial Stadium in midweek, as they welcome one of Taylor's former clubs in Exeter City on Tuesday evening, where there maybe more clarity regarding Martin's future by then.