Barton makes conspiracy theory claim after Rovers slide further into trouble with Sunderland setback
JOEY BARTON claimed there’s an ‘agenda’ against Bristol Rovers as their struggles continued with defeat to Sunderland.
The Gas have failed to pick up any sort of form since Barton was appointed head coach last month.
Rovers’ 1-0 loss to the thirdplaced Black Cats on Saturday means they’re winless in five matches and sit secondbottom of the League One table.
Aiden O’Brien notched the only goal in the 39th minute at the Memorial Stadium to keep Sunderland firmly in the automatic promotion race.
Yet Barton felt the hosts should have been awarded a penalty late on which could have earned them a precious point.
The former Fleetwood chief also felt refereeing decisions didn’t go Rovers’ way in their loss to relegation rivals Swindon last Tuesday.
And he’s starting to wonder if there is a conspiracy theory plotting against his outfit.
Barton told the Gas’ website: ‘Yet again a big decision has gone against us and it’s becoming a recurring theme.
‘I’ll probably get an apology from Mike Jones (head of referees), I’ll be on the phone to Mike again on a Sunday when I’m meant to be with my family.
‘I’m not sure what to do. There feels like there is a real agenda against us. The officials in the past seven, eight, nine games have been suspect and we just keep trying.
‘We should have four extra points on the board but due to poor officials making poor decisions, we don’t have anything to show.
‘The lads are fighting and they’ve backed it up with the performance.
‘We weren’t good enough to win. The big calls have got to drop in your favour and, at this moment, we’re getting nothing off officials.
‘That’s worrying. You expect a level of consistency and we haven’t had it. It does make you start to think of conspiracy theories, is there something bigger at play?
‘I’m not sure, we need to speak to the officials and relevant parties to find out what’s going on because it’s not acceptable.’
Meanwhile, Accrington
boss John Coleman had nothing but praise for
Peterborough after they thrashed his side 7-0 at London Road.
Jonson Clarke-Harris notched a hat-trick, Sammie Szmodics fired a double, while Mo Eisa and Idris Kanu also netted for second-placed Posh.
Coleman said: ‘It’s just unfortunate there is no Premier League or Championship football to bury this result!
‘Peterborough had a day where everything went right for them and they don’t come around very often.
‘It was like all their birthdays came at once as we gifted them their first two goals, but
I’ve got to take my hat off to them. They ran through us time and time again and were fantastic in front of goal.’
Grant McCann remained upbeat despite leaders Hull dropping more points in their bid for an immediate return to the Championship.
The Tigers were held to a
1-1 draw at home to in-form
Gillingham.
Hull boss McCann said: ‘We were up against a team that play in a certain way.
‘You have to do the basics well and I thought for the majority of the game we did.
‘It was just one lapse in concentration from a corner. I thought it was a free-kick to us; their centre-half had two hands on Alfie Jones.
Doncaster dropped out of the play-offs for the first time in two months as their plight continued with a 1-0 reverse at
MK Dons.
Other results: AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Northampton Town, Blackpool 2-2 Plymouth Argyle, Oxford United 2-1 Lincoln City (Fri), Wigan Athletic 0-0 Ipswich Town.