It was all about keeping it simple, says Barton
I just really believed in the group and I really believed in what we were doing
JOEY Barton admits he kept things simple for his players ahead of Bristol Rovers’ promotionwinning heroics on the final day of the League Two season.
With goal difference and matters elsewhere in play, things were in danger of getting a bit complicated for the Gas as they targeted the final automatic promotion place, but the manager kept things brief before the Gas romped to a 7-0 win over already-relegated Scunthorpe United.
Antony Evans and Aaron Collins were among the many heroes, along with Elliot Anderson, whose header five minutes from time moved Rovers above Northampton Town - who won 3-1 at Barrow on the final day - on goals scored, sparking pandemonium at a packed Memorial Stadium.
For Barton, it was vindication after bold claims made at the depths of Rovers’ early-season struggles that the Gas would be promoted, but he was quick to praise the character of his players, which has never deserted them throughout a remarkable run to snatch third place in the final moments of a gruelling campaign.
“I put our previous team talks up all around the dressing room and said it’s nothing you haven’t heard from me all season,” he told reporters outside a raucous home dressing room.
“It was about keeping it simple today. We knew we had an opponent and we had to respect that and make sure we got the first goal and the second goal.
“The fans were incredible for 20 minutes and then it went quiet which I presumed was Northampton scoring at Barrow, but I didn’t realise they’d score three in something like 20 minutes.
“But, again, the spirit and the endeavour of the players and the fanbase supporting them at every junction - 7-0 is not a normal football score. I’m surprisingly speechless. For me it was a case of believing in the group. We’ve worked tirelessly every single training session. The lads have turned up and they’ve competed and it’s my belief that if you do that over the course of a season, you get what you deserve.
“We weren’t in the top three all season. I think we’ve been in there for 10 minutes but they’re the most important 10 minutes. But, again, the challenge for me now is to build this. I think I can build a proper army here in this city, something that has not been done at least in the north part of the city before.
“I’m quite calm, I’m already thinking about next season and pushing this again.”
Barton remains heartbroken by the death of close friend Steve Black in February. The former Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons coach, who Barton met during his time at Queens Park Rangers, had been a mentor to the Rovers boss, inspiring many of his coaching philosophies.
Barton paid tribute to Black’s influence on Rovers’ success after the most remarkable final day.
He added: “I just really believed in the group and I really believed in what we were doing. I’ve had a cheat code all year. I’ve worked with Steve Black, who is the best I’ve ever seen in the world at what he does. He sadly passed away this year and I just knew all I had to do was follow the blueprint of Blacky’s. “I hope his missus and his kids see this today. That team today and that performance is the epitome of what Blacky preached to me on a daily basis.”
The manager also believes the dedicated support of Gasheads, home and away, was a decisive factor in Rovers winning promotion by the smallest of margins.
“Again, we’ve seen how important the role of the supporter is,” he said. “We couldn’t have got promoted this season if we’d have had an average away following. If we’d have had an average home following we wouldn’t have got the job done. The fact we have an exceptional support base that follows us everywhere in numbers. That was the difference.
“You’ve seen today that we’ve gone up on goals scored and if it wasn’t for those guys at Port Vale or Walsall, I can go back to so many different sliding doors moments for the group, but without the special fanbase we’ve got, we would not have got the job done. So massive credit to them.”