Bristol Rovers show why they are masters of the unthinkable as Joey Barton delivers on promise

Until the final five minutes of the final game, Bristol Rovers had not possessed a place in League Two’s top three, but in the most remarkable fashion Joey Barton has delivered on his promotion promise.

The blue touch paper was lit and blue smoke filled the skies of BS7 as the Gas saved their most incredible moment of an incredible season until the final moments. They scored seven goals in a game for the first time in almost 60 years to thrash Scunthorpe United, break Northampton Town hearts and secure an immediate return to League One.

As the sun lowered over the Mem, kids were reenacting their heroes’ contributions in front of the South Stand, while dozens of other Gasheads wandered aimlessly – Thatchers in hand – contemplating what had occurred in the hours previously.

At the start of the day, Rovers’ best hopes of promotion were Barrow nicking a result against third-placed Northampton, allowing the Gas to steal in. But, were the Cobblers to claim victory at Holker Street, Barton’s blues had to go on a hunt for goals.

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And the highly unlikely turned seemingly impossible in no time. Rovers started brightly and went 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, in which time Northampton were three to the good. The Gas were playing well, but events in Cumbria had sucked the life from the terraces that were bouncing at kick-off.

A glimmer of hope arrived not in the form of a third Rovers goal but one back for Barrow on the cusp of half time, but the Gas still needed five goals. It speaks to this team’s flair for the ridiculous that it felt eminently possible, but the reality remained unlikely.

But then two became three, then four, then five and… It was happening. McFadden & Whitehead’s tune has been part of the soundtrack to Rovers’ incredible run and when Antony Evans’ scored a sensational free-kick, there wasn’t any stopping them. A helpless Scunthorpe had no answer.

Aaron Collins’ second and Elliot Anderson’s all-important seventh goal arrived not to feelings of hope but of expectation. If Rochdale a week previously taught us anything about Barton’s blues, it was the team’s innate belief that no challenge is beyond them.

And this was a fitting climax to this chapter in their story. After a stuttering start, they have delivered moments of madness and brilliance in equal measure week in, week out to deservedly book their place in the third tier.

That is precisely what Barton promised at the start of the season, and he doubled down on his promotion assertion repeatedly. At Exeter, after 4-1 thumping, he said he had “no doubt” that the Gas would get there, with the video clip becoming a symbol of the season, being mocked at first before materialising at the last.

At the time, they felt like bold claims lacking in the substance on the pitch to justify them. The manager was doubted by supporters, this reporter and even himself. He deserves enormous credit for the turnaround he has masterminded and by the end of the season, he was in charge of League Two’s best team when it comes to form.

There have been moments along the way that have made this feel like a charmed team. Destiny may not be a real thing but Bristol Rovers certainly have a sense of magic about them. If there was ever a way that this team was going to achieve promotion, it was sure to be in dramatic fashion but they outdid themselves here.

They are a team built for the biggest moments, boasting players all over the pitch who can take charge of a game, be it the big man Connor Taylor – who picked the perfect time to break his duck of headed goals – the midfield generals of Sam Finley, Glenn Whelan and the suspended Paul Coutts, and the near-endless reserves of flair players who time and again have conjured moments of brilliance. Rochdale, Oxford, Walsall, Barrow, Colchester and Bradford are just a few that spring to mind.

Elliot Anderson celebrates after scoring Bristol Rovers’ seventh of the afternoon (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Bizarrely, a 7-0 win to snatch promotion felt in the slightest part anti-climactic, with referee Charles Breakspear ordering the players to leave the pitch and threatening to abandon the game after an influx of fans in response to Anderson’s stooping header four minutes from time. It took an age for the game to resume, by which the Northampton game had concluded and Rovers knew the job was all but done.

They were surreal moments until Mr Breakspear called time on an extraordinary game and an extraordinary season. The pitch was filled once again, with Barton held aloft for the second time in seven days. This time, his players joined him, basking in the glory of what they had achieved.

Not since 1964 had the Gas scored seven in a game. The phrase “x-goal swing” is only churned out at this time of year by journalists and pundits, not that anyone thinks it will actually happen. But Bristol Rovers made it happen. League One awaits.

And with the sun fallen and thousands stumbling down Gloucester Road, those children continued to play in near-darkness; trying to replicate Anderson’s far post header and Antony Evans brilliant free-kick in front of the Thatchers terrace. It had been a time for heroes.

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