MY ACCOUNT
Joey Barton had cited Real Madrid’s remarkable Champions League fightback against Manchester City as an example to Bristol Rovers before Saturday’s promotion decider, but even he might have struggled to imagine the “footballing miracle” that unfolded.
Former City and Newcastle United midfielder Barton led Rovers into their final match of the League Two season outside the automatic promotion places on goal difference and so needing to better Northampton Town’s result by five goals.
Still, boss Barton’s focus was on what Rovers could achieve against already-relegated Scunthorpe United, rather than worrying about Northampton’s result at Barrow.
“If we win 10-0, we’re up, aren’t we? It is in our hands in that way,” he said, adding: “It’s very rare you do someone by 10, but who knows?”
As it was, seven would do – tying a club record.
At half-time, Rovers were 2-0 up, but Northampton also led by two, 3-1 in front and coasting towards League One.
Having scored four in the second half of the previous week’s sensational 4-3 win at Rochdale, Barton’s side this time needed five in the same period.
But the one-time England international was not daunted by the challenge, having pointed to Madrid’s turnaround that secured a Champions League final place.
“Madrid thought they were out of the Champions League, then they scored two goals in stoppage time,” he had said. “It only takes a second to score a goal.”
Rovers certainly did not lack ambition in pursuit of their unlikely aim, attempting 34 shots – the second-most by a team in a single League Two game this season.
Elliot Anderson, the Newcastle loanee dubbed ‘the Geordie Maradona’ following a comparison from Barton to the late Argentina legend, contributed to 15 of those efforts, taking eight shots himself and creating seven chances.
Following his signing, winger Anderson – who only ended up at Rovers after a Championship loan collapsed – led League Two in shot involvements (133) and ranked second for goal involvements (13).
It was no surprise then that the teenager, having supplied two assists, scored the decisive seventh goal in a 7-0 win while Northampton failed to add to their lead. Even Madrid would surely have been impressed.
“Incredible,” Rovers owner Wael al-Qadi told BBC Sport. “It was fantastic to have experienced such a moment.
“The plan was to go for it. I never doubted this bunch of players. They went for it and look what happened. It’s a footballing miracle.”
Both the owner and Barton had taken to the pitch to plead with Rovers fans to return to the stands and allow the match to finish after Anderson’s header.
“I can’t describe it,” Barton added. “It’s probably something when I’m in my rocking chair, and the fact I’ve headed a lot of balls out at the near post area has caught up with me, I’ll remember this favourably with Weetabix running down my chin.
“I’ll be thinking of the scenes at the Mem on this day.”
