Hard Lines for Bury as Chris is spot on
DARRELL Clarke admits to facing a major task re-energising his Rovers battlers for tomorrow’s trip to Fleetwood.
After seeing the team come from behind yet again to clinch victory over a spirited Bury side on a heavy pitch on Friday, Clarke, who celebrates four years as Rovers boss this weekend, was lost in admiration.
He said: “We had six players out injured and I don’t think there are many League One squads who could cope with that.
“Again, the lads have shown tremendous character. We have the best record in all four divisions for taking points having been behind and that says a lot.
“I don’t know if I will have any more players available for the Fleetwood game but those who gave everything [against Bury] will need to recover quickly.
“It may have been a soft penalty that decided the game but plenty of decisions have gone against us this season.”
Bury were incensed over referee Lee Collins’ decision to point to the spot after Ryan Cooney had been judged to have brought down Kyle Bennett on 85 minutes.
Chris Lines sent Connor Ripley the wrong way with a low penalty to settle the outcome and keep Rovers’ faint play-off hopes alive.
Neil Danns had put Bury in front on 54 minutes with an exquisite finish, a curling rightfooted shot from 12 yards after the ball had broken to him in a crowded box.
But Rovers were level 11 minutes later when Bennett’s pass set up substitute Dom Telford, who had just replaced Tom Nichols, to fire low past Ripley from inside the area.
Bury first-team coach Steven Schumacher was adamant that his team had been robbed. “I was convinced at the time that Ryan got a toe to the ball before Bennett went across him and fell,” he said. “Having viewed the incident again after the match, I still think that.
“It was a very soft penalty and the sort of thing that happens when you are bottom of the table.
“I felt we grew into the game and took the lead with a very welltaken goal from Neil Danns.
“The equaliser was a poor goal from our point of view and resulted from a number of mistakes.
“We will not give up until it is mathematically impossible for us to avoid relegation. There is a derby against Rochdale to look forward to on Tuesday night. It’s another chance to boost our points tally.”