Assistant Manager Marcus Stewart paid credit to Lee Brown and Ellis Harrison following today’s 3-2 win against Lincoln City.
Harrison’s last minute goal enabled Rovers to register their first away win of the season and was set up by Brown who had missed a penalty just minutes earlier.
The spot kick had hit the post and come back into play but, undeterred, Brown set up the winning goal.
“I looked over at Lee after the final whistle and his smile showed that he had erased the penalty miss from his mind.
“It was a great ball that he played in for Ellis and he’s a player who has great qualities.
“Credit, also, to Ellis because he turned his defender before hitting a superb shot past their keeper.”
Stewart admitted his heart had been racing as the game came to a close.
“I’m a pretty calm sort of person, but I have to admit that the flurry of shots in the final minute of the game put my heart rate up a little bit more, but our players throwing their bodies on the line just to get a result was what got me going.”
He and Darrell Clarke felt a third goal was required, even after the side had raced into a two goal lead.
“When we were 2-0 ahead in the first half the manager turned to me and said that we needed another goal and he was right, because the game looked a little bit open.”
Stuart Sinclair and Daniel Leadbitter, with their first goals for the club, had given Rovers a two goal cushion and both were superb efforts.
“They were great goals and put us on the front foot after a hesitant opening.
“In terms of our general play we could have done better, but it’s good to get our first away win of the season.”