Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers toppled league leaders Barnet at the Memorial Stadium last night with manager Darrell Clarke pleased at the way his team fought to the final seconds to secure all three points.

“The game should have been dead and buried at half time, but I was pleased with how we kept going.

“We had to change things up, Andy [Monkhouse] was suffering with tight hamstrings and Nathan [Blissett] with a tight calf and I just can’t afford injuries.

For all of their authority in matches, Rovers managed to get on the scoresheet twice last night and Darrell said that it was good to see some of the chances hit the back of the net.

“It was a good first half performance, but some times we’ve dominated games this season but haven’t put our chances in.

“It is nice to get a couple of goals tonight, it’s good for Matty Taylor to be on the scoresheet again.

At the other end of the pitch the Rovers back line kept the leagues top goalscorer and former Gas loanee John Akinde very quiet.

“I think my centrebacks deserve credit, I think they both handled Akinde very well and that is the leagues top goal scorer.

“To have a player that has scored 15 goals this season come down and not get a look shows you how fantastic my defenders were.

Barnet came back into the game in the second half but never really tested Steve Mildenhall in the Rovers goal.

“The second half was a bit more even but my goalkeeper didn’t have a save to make, I believe their only shot on target was the goal.

“We kept going to the very end and tonight we got our rewards.

Darrell is still pointing out that although it was a good win for the club, it was only three points earned last night.

“The pleasing thing for me is that we are not getting carried away, it is just three points at the end of the day.

“Another pleasing thing is that we got another three points in front of our supporters on a wet, miserable night

“Barnet are a very good side with a very good manager so it is nice to get three points off them.