GRANT LEFT IN THE MOOD
Josh excels in his old position
JOSH GRANT is hoping a return to his favourite position will help fulfil the potential shown as a youngster at Chelsea.
Now 23, the versatile Londoner spent 15 years developing his game from Under-8s level at Stamford Bridge, playing alongside the likes of England’s Mason Mount.
Since joining Rovers in the summer of last year, Grant has been used in mainly central positions either in midfield or at the back.
But injuries forced boss Joey Barton to switch him to the left – and the reward was a precious equaliser that turned the game against Northampton.
Grant said: “I played there during several of my seasons with Chelsea and it’s nice to be back in a role that is very familiar to me.
“It is hard to maintain form when you play in a lot of different positions. I am still young in football terms and ambitious to play at the highest possible level.
“The team comes first and
I’ll fill any role the manager wants. But it would probably help my long-term future to concentrate on one in particular.”
Grant caught the eye until a second-half injury. But it was Northampton, who grabbed a 39th-minute lead through Sam Hoskins’ penalty after a foul on Paul Lewis by Connor Taylor.
Harry Anderson provided the 53rd-minute cross for Grant to head past Liam Roberts at the far post. And six minutes later, Antony Evans capitalised on a defensive error to slot the winner unchallenged. Rovers had to play the last 25 minutes without experienced midfielder Glenn Whelan, who was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Mitch Pinnock. But Taylor made up for conceding the penalty with a goalline clearance from Fraser Horsfall in the dying seconds and Barton’s men held firm.
The outcome ended Northampton’s four-match winning streak in the League, and boss Jon Brady admitted: “A 10-minute wobble put pressure on ourselves and gifted them the opportunities to go in front.”
Barton hailed Rovers fans, saying: “They were our 12th – or should that be 11th man.”