We’ve got a real player on our hands – Barton
BRISTOL ROV NORTHAMPTON 2 1
THE volume level said it all. Bristol Rovers’ performances on home turf have not often merited applause of late, but the rapturous ovation for Josh Grant as he limped off was well justified.
He was the standout performer among many fine displays from those in blue and white on Saturday, as the Pirates came from behind to beat Northampton Town at the Memorial Stadium.
The Cobblers, third in League Two at the start of play and on a run of four successive wins, were swept aside by a Rovers side who never deserved to fall behind to Sam Hoskins’ first-half penalty.
Grant, playing his second game at left wing-back for the club, had hit the post in a stellar first period where he caused Northampton so many problems, and he supplied the vital equaliser for Joey Barton’s side nine minutes into the second half with a thumping header.
Antony Evans then completed the turnaround with a clinical finish just shy of the hour mark and the hosts held onto the victory despite Glenn Whelan’s dismissal for a second yellow card.
Boss Joey Barton did not hold back in his praise of Grant.
“We spoke to him about what we felt was his best position when we came into the club and he did say left wing-back, which made you kind of spit your tea,” he said.
“For Chelsea, he played a lot there and you can see from the Oxford game against a really good League One side. Today, he’s obviously got his goal and nearly had another one in the first period. He looks a real threat and we may have stumbled upon Josh’s best position.”
Grant was forced off the field with 26 minutes still to play, but Barton was delighted to inform reporters it was only a spot of cramp having just returned from injury.
And, with a sustained run in the team, Barton believes the Chelsea academy graduate – who has played as a central midfielder and centreback for Rovers – will be a pivotal player for the Pirates
“It’s the timing of his runs,” Barton purred. “That’s the thing with Josh, it’s the intelligence of his positioning. It helps that he’s got an incredible football education coming through
Chelsea’s academy. You don’t come through Chelsea’s academy if you’re not a superb footballer.
“And he’s obviously played there (wing-back) a lot as a young player and he naturally is very intelligent about football. The more he plays there the better he will become.
“If that’s the opening two games in that position, then we’ve got a real player on our hands.”
The three points lifted Rovers to 14th in the table, five points adrift of the top seven. “We knew we were under-performing,” Barton said. “But I think you can see the lads starting to build and I think the manner of the result will go a long way.”
Rovers: Belshaw, Kilgour, Taylor, Harries, Anderson, Finley, Whelan, Coutts, Grant (Anderton 64), Evans (Thomas 71), Nicholson (Collins 89). Not Used: Westbrooke, Martinez, Spence, Ward.
Sent Off: Whelan (67).
Booked: Whelan, Harries, Anderson.
Goals: Grant 54, Evans 59.
Northampton: Roberts, Revan (Harriman 78), Horsfall, Guthrie, Koiki, Hoskins, McWilliams, Flores (Kabamba 77), Pinnock (Connolly 76), Lewis, Etete. Not Used: McGowan, Pollock, Maxted, Rose.
Booked: Hoskins, Roberts.
Goals: Hoskins 39 pen.
Attendance: 6,884.
Referee: Sam Allison (Somerset).