‘Stop us if you can’ is Barton’s rallying cry

JOEY Barton believes in-form Bristol

Rovers “will take some stopping” after they closed in on the leading pack with an eye-catching victory over Harrogate Town.

The Gas are within two points of the automatic promotion places and manager Barton said: “We will take some stopping from here. I wouldn’t swap my squad with anyone.

“We have done things right, going right back to last summer, in terms of eating, sleeping, training, thinking and all the rest.

“No group of players will be fitter and better prepared for the final stages of the season. Momentum is incredibly important in football and we have it.

“Every game is a cup final for us from now on and no one will be getting carried away.

Brilliant first-half goals from Aaron Collins and Elliot Anderson set Rovers on course for victory at the Memorial Stadium.

Having been second best for the first half hour, the home side struck twice in thrilling fashion before the break.

Collins found the top corner with a 25-yard drive after 33 minutes.

Six minutes later, Newcastle United loanee Anderson produced a mazy dribble into the Harrogate box, taking on several defenders before shooting low past Mark Oxley.

Collins made it

3-0 after 55 minutes, coolly chipping over Oxley after intercepting a poor pass from Rory McArdle.

Harrogate failed to make the most of early pressure, which saw Rovers goalkeeper James Belshaw save from Brahima Diarra and Warren Burrell.

Barton earned a yellow card for dissent to the fourth official, but his side controlled the second half and emerged comfortable winners.

Both sides missed late chances, Oxley saving well from Rovers substitute Harvey Saunders. Harrogate boss Simon Weaver said: “We were the better side early on, without making the most of our pressure.

“But we are consistently being punished for mistakes at this level and that has been the story too often over the second half of the season.

“They defended their box properly, while we conceded three poor goals.

“The crowd influenced the officials, but that is what we have to expect when we come to grounds like this.”