Grant’s got enormous future in the game - Barton
THE volume levels said it all. Bristol Rovers’ performances on home turf have not often merited applause of late, but the rapturous ovation for Josh Grant as he limped off was completely justified.
He was the standout performer among many fine displays from those in blue and white on Saturday, as the Gas came from behind to beat Northampton Town 2-1 at the Memorial Stadium.
Northampton, third in League Two at the start of play and on a run of four successive wins, were swept aside by a Rovers side who never deserved to fall behind to Sam Hoskins’ first-half penalty.
Grant, playing his second game at left wing-back for the club, had hit the post in a stellar first period where he caused Northampton so many problems, and he supplied the vital equaliser for Joey Barton’s side nine minutes into the second half with a thumping header.
Antony Evans completed the turnaround with a clinical finish just shy of the hour-mark and the Gas held on to the victory despite Glenn Whelan’s dismissal for a second yellow card.
As for Grant, Gas boss Joey Barton did not hold back in his praise.
“We spoke to him about what we felt was his best position when we came into the club and he did say
He looks a real threat and we may have stumbled upon Josh’s best position within our unit
left wing-back which made you kind of spit your tea,” he said.
“For Chelsea, he played a lot there and you can see from the Oxford game against a really good League One side.
“Today, he’s obviously got his goal and nearly had another one in the first period. He looks a real threat and we may have stumbled upon Josh’s best position within our unit.”
Grant was forced off with 26 minutes to play, but Barton was delighted to inform reporters it was only a spot of cramp having just returned from injury.
With a sustained run in the team, Barton believes the Chelsea academy graduate - who has previously played as a central midfielder and centre-back for Rovers - will be a
pivotal player for the Gas. “It’s the timing of his runs,” said Barton. “That’s the thing with Josh, it’s the intelligence of his positioning. It helps that he’s got an incredible football education coming through Chelsea’s academy. You don’t come through Chelsea’s academy for as long as he did if you’re not a superb footballer.
“He’s obviously played there (wing-back) a lot as a young player and he naturally is very intelligent about football. The more he plays there the better he will become.
“If that’s the opening two games in that position, then we’ve got a real player on our hands.
“You want to bed him down Josh because he’s been one of those players that have kind of suffered through his versatility because he has the football IQ to go in and solve a problem should someone have a knock or a niggle.
“Josh has been a steady figure that you can put in there, but I don’t think that helps Josh’s development. I think every player benefits from being settled in a position and then developing in a position.
“We’re hoping we can get Josh as fit as we can possibly get him because I think he’s got an enormous future in the game.”
When reflecting on the efforts of his team in general, again Barton was not shy in hailing their performance against a side in fine form.
The three points lifted Rovers to 14th in the table, five points adrift of the top seven.
“We knew we were under-performing,” said Barton. “We knew we were not quite at that level that we expect of ourselves as we showed in the opening gambit of the season.
“But I think you can now see with the lads, they’re starting to get that momentum and build teamship and I think the result and manner of the result today will go a long way.”