Barton tells players: Still a lot of work to do
“ONE swallow does not make a summer” was the message from Joey Barton to his players after Bristol Rovers lifted the mood at the Memorial Stadium with a 3-0 win over Carlisle on Saturday, writes Sam Frost.
Antony Evans, Sam Nicholson and Harvey Saunders were all on target to ease the pressure on their manager and lift the Pirates up to 16th place in League Two.
Evans’ opener, eight minutes before the break, stemmed from a brilliant moment of individual skill to bamboozle Danny Devine before the former Everton prospect lashed into the bottom corner with his weaker left foot.
Nicholson scored within eight minutes of his return from injury as a second-half substitute, turning Luke Thomas’ cross into the net four minutes from time, and Saunders added an extra coat of gloss in injury-time with a ruthless finish beyond Lukas Jensen.
Rovers delivered an improved performance seven days on from the beating by Swindon, but Barton is not getting carried away.
“One swallow does not make a summer and we’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said at full time. “We’ll be back in on Monday, back on the training ground and looking to get better.
“I’m pleased for the fans because they stuck with the guys, they stuck with the team and I thought they were superb, especially when it went to 1-0. You get that positive energy and that wind in the sails for the players and they take that on and win relatively comfortably in the end.
“Just pleased for everyone at the football club. It’s not been easy and there’s not been enough of that.
“We’ve still got a lot of hard work
BRISTOL ROVERS ............. 3 CARLISLE UNITED ........... 0
to do, but that’s a step in the right direction.”
Rovers were slightly the better side for the opening hour, but the quality on the home bench told in the closing stages. Thomas, in particular, was outstanding as he displayed the class which has seen him play dozens of games at higher levels when he laid on the assists for Nicholson and Saunders.
The Barnsley loanee is at Rovers after battling personal problems earlier in the year, and his time in BS7 had been underwhelming with his manager ordering him to undergo an additional fitness regime after the season started.
But this 22-minute cameo was a resounding reminder of his ability.
“He’s worked incredibly hard,” Barton said. “He came in and it was well-documented where he was at. He didn’t hit the ground running for us.
“He had to go away and we spoke about working on his fitness and he’s put that time in.
“He’s adapted his diet. He’s dropped his body fat and it’s just the start of his journey here. I think that will do no end of good for his confidence. He’s a talented boy and we’ve got to get him firing on all cylinders.”
Rovers: Belshaw, Hoole, Taylor, Harries, Brown (Anderton 37), Coutts, Whelan, Anderson (Thomas
68), Evans, Saunders, Collins (Nicholson 78). Not Used: Westbrooke, Martinez, Ward, Pitman.
Booked: Harries, Saunders, Thomas, Whelan.
Goals: Evans 35, Nicholson 86, Saunders 90. Carlisle: Jensen, Devine, Feeney, Whelan, Armer (Charters 72), Alessandra (Gibson 53), Guy, Mellish, Clough, Young (Abrahams 63), Dickenson. Not Used: Dinzeyi, Mampala, Toure, Breeze.
Booked: Feeney, Devine, Alessandra, Armer, Guy, Mellish.
Attendance: 6,302.
Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).