THE GAME
Scott Sinclair for Isaac Hutchinson was the only change to Rovers starting lineup for this match against bottom four side Burton Albion, who came into the match on the back of a six game unbeaten run.
There was a remarkably slow start to the match, but it sprung into life on 13 minutes when Rovers edged ahead. Ruel Sotiriou and Lino Sousa worked the ball down the left before Sousa crossed into the box where Chris Martin was on hand to glance a header past goalkeeper Max Crocombe.
That was to be the only goal of a first half in which Rovers dominated possession and although Martin hit a shot wide of goal on the half hour mark and James Wilson was just unable to force the ball over the line in a goalmouth melee just before the break it was disappointing that Inigo Calderon’s side couldn’t find another goal following an impressive display.
However, it was all change in the second half as Burton looked to be a different side and took the game to Rovers. Jed Ward watched a shot from Owen Dodgson drift wide of his goal and then the keeper made a point blank save from Fabio Tavares.
The Burton substitute wasn’t to be denied, though, and shortly afterwards he gave his side a lifeline. A cross from Charlie Webster was headed back across goal by Ryan Sweeney and Alvares headed past Ward.
It was a goal that Burton had been threatening to score from the start of the second half and, that point, Rovers were struggling to stay in the game.
Calderon’s side, though, dug deep and conjured up an equaliser three minutes from time when Martin found Luke Thomas in space and he drove the ball in from six yards.
The fourth assistant’s board showed eight minutes of added time; lengthy because of an allegation of racist abuse directed at Burton’s Godwin-Malife, which was being investigated at the time of writing.
However, in the ninth minute of the eight (work that one out!) Rovers scored a third goal and again Martin can claim the assist as he found Hutchinson who calmly beat Crocombe to seal victory for his side.
THEY SAID WHAT?
‘Obviously, I’m happy with the points. Especially in the first half, I thought we were really good, really, really good. The first 30 minutes was probably the best we played so far. I’ve been saying that a couple of times, so that means we are improving every single game. We didn’t start the same way in the second half. They were probably more aggressive, and we couldn’t find the solutions.
‘I would say their goal was coming. You still have to give credit to the boys. They found a way in a difficult moment because when they scored, it was a difficult moment. Credit to the boys that they found a way to score the second one, and after, I think it was not easier, but we managed the game a bit better.
‘I’ve been saying all the time that we are progressing, but it’s about doing things right for longer. The way we started the game, the first 25 minutes were really, really good, and it should be easier as in theory, the other team is more tired. We did the difficult part at the beginning. That’s the room to improve, but obviously I’m really happy with the boys today.’ (Rovers Head Coach Inigo Calderon)
‘I think there’s a bit of relief. I think by the end of it, after how the game went obviously, they got back into it late on, which didn’t feel the best at the time. But I thought we pulled it out the hat at the end and showed good character to come back and win the game after conceding so late on. The period leading up to their goal, I’m going to be honest, on the pitch it did feel like it was coming.
‘They did make it difficult for us. It felt like a little bit of a sucker punch when the goal went in, but from then on, the reaction and the aggression that we showed and the intensity, the running, I think it showed that we were bang up for the fight today. I’m delighted that we were able to come away with the three points.
‘The first half of that game is some of the best football that we’ve played. I would have to watch it back, but definitely some great moments from us in the first half. The second half didn’t quite follow the same pattern. I think they were a bit more aggressive. I think that’s part of the evolution of this team, and obviously, with the manager and how he wants to play is overcoming those sorts of things.’ (Rovers striker Chris Martin)
‘The first 45 minutes we were nowhere near good enough. We had a really great following and I thank all the supporters for coming, but the first 45 minutes we were too passive. I’ve not seen that in the last six, seven games from us, it reminded me of the first game in charge against Exeter, I haven’t seen that in this personnel yet which was really disappointing.
‘We challenged the group at half-time to show a response and I thought we did. I’ve just looked at the stats, we had more touches in the penalty box than them and I’ve not seen Max make a save if I’m being honest, yet we’ve conceded three goals and the manner of all three goals was really poor from us. We made changes and our substitutes came on and gave us some momentum. I was delighted for Fabio to get his first goal but then he’s gone and pulled his hamstring, today was one of those where whatever could go wrong for us did.
‘The manner of which we got back into the game I fancied us to go on and get the winner, but we’ve left two crosses in our box today that have ended up in goals. If you look at the manner of all three goals it’s just not what we’ve been about; stopping crosses, tracking runners, unfortunately we haven’t done that today and we’ve been punished.’ (Burton Manager Gary Bowyer)
