CHARLIE IS THEIR DARLING
BRISTOL ROVERS ended Northampton Town’s 17match unbeaten home league run with a dramatic injury-time winner and manager Darrell Clarke said the spirit his players showed is two years’ in the making.
The last time these two sides met, Northampton secured promotion and the Cobblers have continued their impressive form into the higher division, with four victories from their last five league matches.
But Bristol Rovers have not had a shabby start to life in League One either and Chelsea loanee Charlie Colkett’s winner in the second minute of injurytime moved the visitors up to seventh in the table.
Clarke said: “I thought the match was a great advert for this league. We found ourselves having to chase the game but we showed some great character.
“It was great we kept going and were digging in. We have been trying to build this character for the last two years.
“Our target is to win ten away games this season, so this was a great result.
“In the first half we weren’t moving the ball quick enough but I though Charlie and Connor Roberts were great for making their full league debuts with us – credit is due to Chelsea Football Club for giving this great attitude to the likes of Charlie.”
Northampton took the lead in the ninth minute when a long ball from goalkeeper Adam Smith went through the heart of the Bristol Rovers defence, allowing Alex Revell to clip the ball over the onrushing Kelle Roos. But Rovers were level on the hour as a deflected crosscum-shot from striker Rory Gaffney nestled into the net beyond the despairing Smith.
The visitors went in front for the first time when an in-swinging corner from Colkett was met with a powerful header from centre-back Peter Hartley.
Five minutes later the Cobblers were level though as substitute Kenji Gorre set up Revell to score, but after both teams had chances to win it through Gaffney and Gorre respectively, it was the visitors who snatched it in dramatic fashion.
After 89 minutes referee Graham Horwood was forced off due to injury and fourth official Joe Clark was required to make an immediate decision, sending off Gabriel Zakuani for a professional foul on Gaffney. And moments later Colkett fired through the legs of Smith to send the 997-strong Rovers fans into delirium.
Northampton boss Rob Page said: “We weren’t at our best but at times we played some great stuff. Having said that we’re disappointed to concede from a set-piece, we switched off. It’s a disappointing afternoon. “I was surprised by Gabi’s second booking. I’ve seen the replays and don’t see how that second challenge was a booking and when you look at it the linesman’s not given it. I’m not blaming the officials for our loss though. We lost because we switched off but we have to move on.
“There were aspects of the game where I thought we played well at times, but we paid for losing our concentration.”