Rovers fans turn to macabre humour after dismal display
Talking points from Bristol Rovers’ defeat to Leyton Orient at the Memorial Stadium, by
AS half-time loomed, with Bristol Rovers on the receiving end of another beating, the anger was fog-like at the Memorial Stadium. A low cloud of boos, emanating from mouths of supporters sick to the back teeth, hung in the air.
There was no silver lining, and the cloud of rage dissipated to be replaced by an air of resignation and cries of self-deprecation.
It was a laugh-or-cry territory, and Gasheads chose the route of macabre humour as their side slumped to a dismal 3-1 home defeat at the hands of a Leyton Orient side that made Rovers look like a lousy pastiche.
A shot off target was met with a standing ovation, and Brett Pitman’s meaningless consolation was ironically celebrated like a cup final winner.
One final burst of fury was saved for the final whistle, where the decibel level hit new levels as thousands of supporters booed and gesticulated in the direction of Joey Barton as he applauded in their direction en route to the tunnel and a miserable dressing room.
At times, this was an afternoon on the verge of boiling over, but this is a fanbase left completely broken.
The anger is not long-lasting or overspilling because the hope and fight have been beaten out of fans by a two-year period of abject failure. Expectation of anything better than defeat, week-in, week-out, has been destroyed. Disillusionment is peaking and, most of the time, at 4.50pm on Saturdays they look to their mates and wonder why the hell they bother. They bother because it is their football club and they deserve so much better.
‘THE CLOCK IS TICKING’
WAEL Al-Qadi’s commitment to the Barton vision and project has been evident from the mandate the manager has been given to transform almost everything in sight at Rovers.
But there are defeats and there are damaging defeats, and this was certainly the latter. Surely the owner’s patience is being tested?
A Rovers side packed with experience played nothing like a team built to weather difficult moments. Instead, they looked like a callow, ill-prepared rabble when challenged by adversity.
Referee David Rock made an egregious decision in letting off Dan Happe as he fell to the floor having been skinned by Aaron Collins, but poise is required while feeling aggrieved. Instead, Rovers were 1-0 down little more than 60 seconds after that incident, letting Harry Smith head into the net without a marker in sight.
The second goal followed a similar theme. Yes, there was a dubious decision in the build-up with Brett Pitman hit by a harsh handball call, but Rovers had two chances to clear their lines from the resulting free-kick and Theo Archibald capitalised by teeing it high and letting it fly with a measured slice reminiscent of Bubba Watson. The third goal, too, came from an unforced error, with Nick Anderton and Collins somehow playing Rovers into danger with a miscommunication when there ought to have been no risk.
Gasheads have been promised plenty by Barton, particularly a strong team that can handle the pressure of the League Two battlegrounds, but that is a vow which is yet to be delivered. The reality of the game is running out for the manager to fulfil his promises.
“I’m not an imbecile,” he told the Bristol Post at full-time on Saturday. “I know that clock is ticking, whether it is 10 games, 15 games because I know the Gasheads want a football club they can be proud of.”
With those milestones in the season rapidly approaching, time is of the essence for Barton.
A PALE IMITATION
IN many ways, Kenny Jackett’s Orient are precisely what Barton wanted to build at Rovers.
The Londoners had experience through the spine, particularly with veteran midfielder Darren Pratley leading the midfield and dominant centre-back Omar Beckles - a player who has no business playing below League One. Leading the line was Smith, offering the complete package up front with a goal, connecting the team with cute knockdowns and making his height count.
Mixed in around those players, was vibrancy and exuberance, giving Jackett strength in each third of the pitch and options to play short and long, and press with intensity or sit deep when required.
It is a formula Barton aimed to recreate at the Mem, but after eight games Rovers are, at best, a pale imitation.
ONE THAT GOT AWAY
THERE was a fair degree of scepticism, including from this reporter, when Harry Smith emerged as a transfer target for Rovers in January. After all, names like Armand Gnanduillet and Jayden Stockley were on the table, and Smith’s record at Northampton Town was not eye-catching.
Rovers dallied and Smith took an offer from Motherwell in the meantime. But, after an injury-hit stint in Scotland, Smith has made a huge impact at Leyton Orient.
Rovers, of course, ended up with no striking addition in that window, but they must regret not moving on Smith now. His return of six goals in seven appearances to start the season makes him the division’s leading scorer, and he is the perfect foil for the playmakers around him - using his 6ft 5in frame to great effect. But he’s not just a bulldozer, either. His link-up play was superb at the Mem as he made an emphatic statement.