Anssi earns plaudits as Rovers hold on for point

JOEY Barton was full of praise for goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola after his late double save ensured Bristol Rovers left South London with a point.

Sutton United returned to the automatic promotion spots with Richie Bennett’s effort, but a late penalty from Anthony Evans forced them to settle for a draw.

Bristol boss Barton highlighted his Finnish stopper after his in-form side made it 14 points from a possible 18.

He said: “Everybody knows just how good of a goalkeeper he is. I thought for him to step up at the end in big moments like that, that’s what great players do.”

“Great credit goes to the lads because they have kept pushing and trying to do the right things in tough conditions.

“For me, after they scored we were the only side trying to do the right things.”

Jaakkola was quickly called into action to keep out Isaac Olaofe’s effort.

Defender Paul Coutts then had to be in the right place at the right time to clear Joe Kizzi’s effort off the line.

Striker Bennett opened the scoring in the 18th minute as he bundled home from a corner, and down the other end, Aaron Collins’ deflected strike rattled the hosts’ crossbar.

Barton’s side were once again frustrated by the woodwork when Evans’ firsthalf stoppage-time free-kick hit the bar.

Sutton stopper Dean Bouzanis tipped Collins’ goal-bound strike past a post just after the hour, but Elliot Anderson drew a foul from the keeper before Evans tucked home from 12 yards to rescue a point. Omar Bugiel frustratingly hit the post in stoppage time, before Jaakkola made a great double save to ensure a share of the spoils.

U’s boss Matt Gray felt his side still had a chance to take all three points after Rovers levelled from the spot.

“It was a hardfought, competitive game between two competitive sides. We played really well in the first half and had a couple of chances.

“We did well to get the goal in the first half and maybe should have had a couple more.

“We conceded a penalty quite late on, but we had so many chances after that to go on and win the game.

“I’m really disappointed that we haven’t managed to go and do that.”