The numbers add up for promoted Gas

THE Bristol Rovers squad are sunning themselves in Dubai after owner Wael Al-Qadi funded an end-of-season promotion party getaway for the Gas squad following a truly exceptional conclusion to the campaign in which they claimed third place and an instant passage into League One on the final day.

That Scunthorpe result and occasion at the Mem will live long in the memory but, as opposition manager Keith Hill alluded to after the game, it was the culmination of a 46-match campaign in which the Gas started with a struggle but hit their stride at the turn of the new year and never looked back.

With another campaign finished and thoughts very soon turning to 2022/23, it’s a chance to look back on the last nine months and here is a potted review of the season via the medium of statistics, revealing standout individuals, reliable presences and some of the reasons why Rovers are lying on sun loungers in the Middle East bearing smiles of immense satisfaction.

■ 0.7 - goals or assists per 90 minutes by Antony Evans, only five players in the league managed more, with Forest Green’s Matt Stevens leading the standings on 0.87. Elliot Anderson is one place below Evans with 0.67 and Aaron Collins 25th as the next-best Rovers player with 0.48. ■ 7 - Rovers failed to score in only seven matches this season, joint lowest with Swindon. Three of those games were at the Mem and four on the road.

■ 13 - yellow cards given to Sam Finley making him the joint second-most booked player in the league behind Barrow’s Oliver Banks who had 14.

■ 18 - times Sam Nicholson was substituted, more than any other Rovers player. Luke Thomas was Rovers’ most used substitute, brought on 18 times, followed by Glenn Whelan was 12.

■ 19 - set-piece goals scored by Rovers, third most in League Two. 44 of their strikes over the course of the season were in open play which accounts for 62 per cent of their total goals for.

■ 21 - goals scored by Rovers in the final 15 minutes of games, more than any of their rivals, with Exeter second on 18. Rovers also scored 46 second-half goals compared with 25 in the first half. Only Swindon scored more after half-time with 52.

■ 29 - players made at least one league start this season (compared with 30 last season): James Belshaw led the way with 42, Connor Taylor second on 41 followed by Harry Anderson with 39.

■ 38 - goals scored at the Mem, only Swindon and Mansfield (both 40) managed more at home. Rovers also ranked third for goals on the road with 33.

■ 54 - points won by Rovers since January 1, ahead of Exeter with 51 and Mansfield with 45.