Despite Bristol Rovers' 2-1 loss to Walsall, Bryant Bilongo was delighted to get his first Sky Bet League Two start of the campaign.
The 24-year-old has had to be patient to get his chance in the team, having either being an unused substitute or out of the squad for eight successive fixtures before coming off the bench against Salford City. However, after working hard in midweek, Bilongo earned a place in Darrell Clarke's side.
The former Middlesbrough man started on the left side of the midfield, just ahead of Jack Sparkes, and was a constant threat in the first half for Rovers. He had a hand in the Gas' opener, rushing down the left and pulling the ball across to Ellis Harrison, who assisted Fabrizio Cavegn's clinical strike into the bottom corner.
Reflecting on his return, Bilongo was pleased to be back in the team in a position he knows well from when he was younger.
“On a personal note, I am happy that I could come back in,” he said. “The gaffer has thrown me into the starting 11 out wide; I don’t think anyone was expecting that, but I don’t know where anyone expects me to play these days.
“I got to attack, be an outlet for the team and I guess a goal came from it, so I was delighted about it.”
Bilongo has shown his versatility at the Gas. Usually utilised as a defender, the 24-year-old has played as a left-sided centre-back, a left-back, and a striker before being deployed on the wing against Walsall. For Bilongo, he simply wants to work hard for the team wherever he is needed.
“I am happy to just be useful for the team,” said Bilongo. “Wherever the gaffer wants to play me, whenever he wants to play me, I am always here. We’re always working as a team. There are a lot of players that are versatile, we can change shape, and I am just happy to be a player who is useful.
The Gas controlled the first half and nullified Walsall's chances, but could not build on their one-goal advantage and were punished for a disappointing second half.
Rovers could not find their way into the contest after the break and conceded twice in nine minutes through Aaron Pressley's brace to fall to defeat.
With the Gas' seven-match unbeaten run in the fourth tier coming to an end, Bilongo was disappointed his side could not come away with anything, especially after showing their quality before the break.
“It was a really good first half,” he said. “I think we dominated, went 1-0 up and I thought it was really good, honestly. In the second half, we were under the cosh a bit and they got their goals.
“We are disappointed with the second-half performance, especially knowing what we can do and what the team has achieved in the past month or so. It’s disappointing to leave here with nothing, but the signs are still there. In the first half, it was really good. We will take the positives but also reflect on the second half and work on it.
He later added: “We are still together, of course. We are a team. That’s happened, we’ll reflect on it on Monday, work on whatever we need to work on during the week and bounce back from it.”
