Barton hails Rovers fans

JOEY Barton believes the support of Bristol Rovers fans gives his team “something special” with another big away following expected at Rochdale today, writes Sam Frost.

Around 2,000 advanced tickets have been sold for the game at Spotland, Rovers’ penultimate match of the season, with their hopes of automatic promotion still alive. Barton’s men are sixth in Sky Bet League Two, two points adrift of the automatic places, but their season has not always been this way.

For months, Rovers were struggling to climb out of the bottom half of the table. Their form may have dramatically improved, but the dedicated backing of supporters on the road has been a constant. Crowds in excess of 2,000 were taken to Swindon and Port Vale, with several other big away followings over the course of the season. There have been multiple sell-outs at the Memorial Stadium this season too.

That has not gone unnoticed by Barton, who wants to reward fans with a successful end to the season.

“We’ve benefitted enormously from the fantastic support we’ve had all season,” he said. “I said that even when we weren’t doing well. There were times when they held us accountable because they knew they’d travelled in their numbers and we didn’t want to disappoint them or let them down.

“Gradually, as the season has built and the momentum wave has built, the rapport between players and fans has grown enormously. The fact they’ve travelled the length and breadth of the country speaks volumes because, without them, I don’t think we’d have been anywhere near as successful as we have in recent months. I look back to the Swindon game when we weren’t riding the crest of a wave and I think there were three-thousand-odd there. That was a real momentum shift for us. I think back to Walsall, I think back to Exeter away when we were dreadful and the Gasheads haven’t come up short for the group in any match.

“They’ve travelled in ridiculous numbers, given such good support to the players and all we want to do is keep making them want to be at games, keep making them travel and keep making the noise they do because they are proud of the players who are pulling on the quarters.

“I’m hoping they are there in their numbers again (at Rochdale) and I’m hoping we can give them another really good, positive performance and hopefully take maximum points.”

Meanwhile, Swindon’s 2-1 victory over Forest Green in midweek leaves the Robins two points outside the playoff places with two matches to play.

This afternoon Ben Garner’s men host Barrow, who have secured their League Two status for another season.

“We just have to concentrate on winning our games,” insisted Swindon head coach Garner.