Promotion-chasing Pirates need Evans back for run-in
Talking points from Bristol Rovers’ draw against Tranmere Rovers, by
ELLIOT Anderson’s fine finish ensured Bristol Rovers secured what could be an important point come the end of the season against fellow promotion chasers Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.
Joey Barton’s side dominated the majority of the contest in Birkenhead, enjoying 68 per cent possession, but their profligacy in front of goal in a dominant first half looked to have cost them dearly when Kane Hemmings lashed home in the 56th minute after latching on to Tranmere goalkeeper Joe Murphy’s long punt forward.
However, the Gas fought back into the game and equalised seven minutes later when Luca Hoole headed into the path of Elliot Anderson, who sent a guided effort into the bottom corner of the net from close range.
Both sides had spells of pressure in the final 25 minutes but neither could find a winner with both sides having to settle for a point that saw Rovers move down a place to sixth in the League Two table.
ELLIOT ANDERSON ANSWERS BARTON’S CALL
FOLLOWING the win over Bradford City last Saturday, Barton gave a rallying call to Elliot Anderson to improve his goal contributions and the teenager duly obliged with a fine strike in Saturday’s draw.
The Newcastle loanee is a genuine pleasure to watch play football. The way he can transition from flamboyance to escape one challenge to practically running through the next challenge is commendable.
However, since his move from Newcastle in January, for all his flashy, jaw-dropping moments, there has been a sense that he could do more to maximise his goal return. In the first half, if anyone was going to launch the game into life from a Bristol Rovers perspective, it was going to be Elliot Anderson and he was the man who deservedly brought the Gas level in the second half.
The teenager will undoubtedly play an important role in the final games of the season as the Gas look to achieve promotion back to League One, and individually he could be the main benefactor of Antony Evans’ return to the team as he would likely be moved out wide and given more freedom to roam in the attacking third.
GAS MISSING EVANS’ INSPIRATION
AFTER two games without Antony Evans, Barton was hopeful he would be back available for the trip to Tranmere but when the teams were announced at 2pm there was no sign of the former Everton
Under-23s captain, and his absence was noticeably missed on Saturday.
Elliot Anderson and Sam Finley are the players most capabale of producing a moment from nothing for Rovers, but neither can quite open up a game like Evans. The Newcastle loanee specialises in beating defenders with his dazzling feet and bouldering drives into space, while Finley can alleviate pressure with ease to start attacks either through an accurate longrange pass or a clever flick.
Both Anderson and Finley were able to show those traits on Saturday but that killer pass in the final third, which Evans has provided countless time this season, eluded the Gas in a dominant yet frustrating first half.
The Gas sent barrages of attacks towards the Tranmere goal in the first period but they were unable to register a single shot on target,
often overplaying their attacking phases and either attempting an ambitious pass between the lines which was unsuccessful or needing to recycle possession with the moment to strike dwindling.
Barton revealed after the game he expects to have Evans back for the Good Friday clash with Salford City at the Memorial Stadium, and he is needed.
NICHOLSON NEEDS TO FOLLOW IN HARRY ANDERSON’S FOOTSTEPS
AT the start of 2022, Harry Anderson endured a spell of five games four of which were substitute appearances - where he played a combined total of 44 minutes, his absence was mostly due to a niggling injury, but it’s possible that a similar time period away from the starting XI could do wonders for Sam Nicholson.
The Scotsman was arguably the biggest culprit for over-complicating attacks on Saturday as he took one too many touches when advancing towards the box, but he did show signs of what he is best in the opening ten minutes.
Through creating an overload on the left wing with Trevor Clarke, in particular in those early knockings, Nicholson was afforded the opportunity to drive at the Tranmere defence with real intent.
Josh Dacres-Cogley was overwhelmed in the first quarter of the game but Nicholson’s control over that battled waned as the game ticked by and he was eventually withdrawn on the hour-mark. Nicholson, to be fair, did miss four
matches through injury in March and he is still getting back up to speed.
Antony Evans is likely to be involved in some capacity on Friday and if fully fit he could start over Nicholson. However, it’s unlikely Evans will be able to complete 90 minutes, so Nicholson could be a difference-maker in the final 20 or 30 minutes when full of energy against tiring defenders.
It could be the recipe needed to get his confidence back up. When Harry Anderson earned back his starting place, he followed it up with two goals in the following three games and Nicholson could certainly have a similar impact if given some time away from the starting XI.
LUCA HOOLE’S DEVELOPING TRAIT
MULTIPLE Rovers players have developed and honed their game as the season has gone on, but perhaps none have been more satisfying to watch than homegrown fullback Luca Hoole growing in the shirt every week.
The teenager has stepped up to almost every challenge that has been placed in front of him in a defensive capacity this season and with more and more commanding performances under his belt, he is starting to develop an appetite for contributing further up the pitch.
On both flanks Rovers provided many moments of concern for Tranmere with Harry Anderson linking up with Hoole and it was often the latter the furthest forward of the pair sending the crosses in.