Sub keeper Jordi saves Pirates’ first

Barton win

JOEY Barton praised the last-second heroics of substitute Jordi van Stappershoef after securing his first win as Bristol Rovers boss.

When Joe Day suffered a nasty facial injury deep into stoppage time, his back-up was summoned from the bench to face a right wing corner.

It was headed on the far post where Shrews substitute David Edwards looked certain to score.

But van Stappershoef raced across his line to protect Rovers’ lead.

The hosts had looked comfortable defending goals from Luke Leahy and Brandon Hanlan, and Barton hailed his sub keeper.

“All credit to Jordi, who has not had the easiest of times,” he said.

“His father passed away recently and he wasn’t able to do the things you would normally do at such a time because of the pandemic.

“It shows his mental state that he was able to go on and make that save when he must have felt he wouldn’t be needed. The lads gave him a round of applause in the dressing room.”

The hosts took the lead just before halftime when a slick move down the right ended with Alex Rodman crossing low for Leahy to shoot in unchallenged at the far post.

Hanlan doubled their advantage on the hour mark with a perfectly placed right-footed shot from the right corner of the box after running onto a Zain Westbrooke pass.

Shrewsbury had failed to register a single shot on target, but Daniel Udoh tapped in a cross from fellow substitute Edwards in injury-time to give the visitors hope.

Then came the late drama, with Rovers goalkeeper Day forced to go off after diving at the feet of a Shrewsbury player.

Replacement van Stappershoef then made the crucial save to secure the three points. Shrews assistant-manager Aaron Wilbraham had no complaints.

“Our lads looked tired and off their game today,” he said.

“I’ve told them that their disappointment today is a reflection on how well they have been doing.

“It was probably the wrong time to play Bristol Rovers with their new manager in charge and it was a scrappy performance from us.

“We didn’t get going in the first half against a side with a spring in their step.”