Rodman niggle a blow for Rovers, says Barton
JOEY Barton says Alex Rodman’s injury was the turning point as Bristol Rovers had to settle for a point against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, writes Sam Frost.
The game ended goalless after the hosts controlled long periods, but they did not take their chances, allowing the Dons to come on strongly, and Joe Day made a string of important saves late on.
Rovers were not at their rampant best, which saw Accrington Stanley thumped 4-1 on Tuesday, but they did created the only chances of note for the first three-quarters of the game.
However, wing-back Rodman was forced off with a muscle twinge with 23 minutes to play, and boss Barton believes it cost Rovers their momentum as they had to shift from a 3-4-2-1 to a back four.
“I thought it was just a good, honest bottom of the table scrap,” Barton said. “Both sets of players probably didn’t want to lose the game and then it’s a case of are you going to give enough or take enough risks to win the game.
“We asked our lads at half-time to take the game to the opposition, getting our wing-backs higher rather than pushing them back in. I thought we did that certainly in the opening exchanges, they couldn’t really get out of their half.
“Then Rodders picks up a little niggle and we have to change
BRISTOL ROVERS ............ 0 AFC WIMBLEDON ............ 0
shape and go to four at the back. At that point, we just lost a bit of the momentum, but credit to them for putting Ollie Palmer on who changed it up.
“They weren’t sitting back and trying to contain, they were also trying to win a game and I think a goal either way would’ve been disappointing for either side.
“Joe made some great saves at the end, but if we’d have got the goal I don’t think Wimbledon could’ve had any complaints based off the amount of attacks we had.”
Barton hopes Rodman will be fit for tomorrow’s trip to Charlton, but the 34-year-old will need further assessment to determine if he will miss any action.
Saturday’s result leaves Rovers one point clear of the League One drop zone with 12 games to play.
“We’ve got a long way to go and a lot to do,” Barton added. “But we’re moving in the right direction.”
Rovers: Day, Williams, Kilgour, Baldwin, Rodman (Hanlan 67), Upson, McCormick, Leahy, Westbrooke, Nicholson, Ayunga (Daly 84). Not Used: Van Stappershoef, Ehmer, Hargreaves, Walker, Martinez. Booked: Upson, Daly.
Wimbledon: Tzanev, Alexander, Johnson, Nightingale, Guinness-Walker, Woodyard (Oksanen 83), Dobson (Palmer 73), McLoughlin (Longman 65), Reilly, Rudoni, Pigott. Not Used: O’Neill, Assal, Cox, Heneghan. Booked: Guinness-Walker, Johnson, Woodyard, Pigott. Referee: Sam Barrott (West Yorkshire).