Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Rovers planning a Mem goal rush
Pirates could leapfrog Northampton into top three with big victory over the Iron
JOEY Barton has revealed that Bristol Rovers have worked on some “aggressive” tactics on the training ground this week in the event they need to produce a goal rush to realise their promotion dream this afternoon.
However, the manager insists his team will take nothing for granted when going up against already-relegated Scunthorpe United on the final day of the League Two season.
Rovers are fourth in the standings ahead of their 46th and final game, level on points with Northampton, who occupy the last automatic promotion place.
Victory will be enough for the Pirates to overhaul the Cobblers if Jon Brady’s side drop points away to Barrow, but it will come down to goal difference if both sides win. Mansfield, Port Vale or Swindon could also go up if both drop points.
The Cobblers have a five-goal advantage, but Rovers have scored more, meaning Barton’s men could sneak into the top three in the most remarkable fashion if both win, but the Pirates outgun the Cobblers by five.
With that in mind, Barton and his players have spent time plotting methods of attack, should the chance arise to try to wipe out Northampton’s goal difference advantage against Scunthorpe, League Two’s worst side who have won just four times this season. However, Barton insists Keith Hill’s team will be paid due respect and he will take nothing for granted.
The manager said: “We’ve worked through some things in terms of getting more aggressive if we decide to go that way, but we know we’ve got a team that’s just lost its League
status that has got a lot of young players in it who will be proud and wanting to go out putting on a good show, and there a lot of young kids there who are just starting out in their careers. We expect a physical test and they’ll be wanting to do as well as they can.
“If we’re to give ourselves the maximum chance then we must win the game first and foremost.
“If we get into a position where we can freewheel a bit and then go for it, of course, we will do. For us, it’s about putting on a good show in front of our fans and giving ourselves the best opportunity we can of clinching that third spot.
“The priority for us is winning the game, taking maximum points and, as I say, if we’re able to do that with a bit of comfort, then we’ll go for it. But we also know it will be a tough fixture to win because it’s the last game as a Football League club (for Scunthorpe), it’s full of young kids who will be proud and be desperate to put themselves in the shop window for the manager or for next season.
“We’re going to have to be very good to win the game, but also if we want to get the goal difference, which it could come down to, we’re going to have to be almost faultless in our performance.”
Barton is not counting on any favours from elsewhere. He expects Northampton to hold up their end of the bargain in Cumbria, which would mean the Gas would have to settle for the play-offs unless they deliver a thrashing against the Iron.
“Northampton still have to go to
Barrow, which is a tricky place, albeit I think Northampton will win,” he said.
“I will be surprised if they don’t win there, but as Salford and Newport showed the other day there are no easy points in this League.
“Phil Brown (Barrow boss) has been a Premier League manager and done really well at lots of clubs. I think he’s figuring out his squad for next year, so I imagine Phil will want to give a good performance in their last home game.
“You have to expect Northampton to win there, you have to think they’re going to win there, so we need to make sure we win first and foremost, and if we have the opportunity to win and freewheel a little bit, then we’ll go for it because we want to get that automatic spot.”
Barton says his players can take inspiration for a dramatic week across the football landscape, with Championship winners Fulham drubbing play-off hopefuls Luton 7-0 and Real Madrid pulling off a comeback against Manchester City in the Champions League.
Rovers, too, have form in that regard, scoring four second-half goals to come from 2-0 and then 3-1 down to beat Rochdale last Saturday, setting up the grandstand finish in the race for automatic promotion.
The manager, though, demands “patience” from his players, focusing on securing victory first and warning against trying to chase the game recklessly from the off.
He added: “For us, it’s making sure we get three points, making sure we win that game, and with the greatest respect in the world to Scunthorpe, we’re not thinking we’re going to put a cricket score on them.”