Careless Mistakes Costly For Luckless Rovers

Rovers hapless holiday period was compounded with a 2-0 defeat away to relegation rivals Barnet in North London.

The Pirates wasted numerous chances at the end of the first period before capitulating at the end of the second; Izale McLeod's 15th of the season and Clovis Kamdjo bagging the points that bring the Bees level on points with Rovers.

Sunday's loan signings, goalkeeper Michael Poke and central defender Aaron Downes both took up immediate places in the starting 11 while Eliot Richards replaced Joe Anyinsah, playing in a central midfield role alongside Andy Dorman in Paul Buckle's 4-1-4-1 formation.

The manager's situation continues to look extremely precarious, with just two points taken from the last possible 24. The only two victories since October have come against non-league opposition in the FA Cup, but with Premier League Aston Villa coming up on Saturday, the cup run appears odds on to end.

Once the Gas fell behind on 69 minutes, the calls for the Buckle's head began ringing out from the travelling fans yet again, the mood amongst supporters leaving Buckle's position increasingly untenable.

The home side created the bulk of the first halves chances, though their profligate shooting prevented any breakthrough - Mark Marshall's swinging left foot sending the ball over the roof of Underhill's South Stand.

Poke, playing his first competitive game since August 2010, looked confident throughout the game, adeptly dealing with numerous crosses into his penalty area while also smothering the ball at the onrushing feet of McLeod.

Even though they had been under the cosh for much of the game, it was Rovers who ended the first period on top; captain-for-the-day Gary Sawyer testing Dean Brill's reactions with a forceful drive, which was only kept out by the former Luton keeper's fingertips.

Downes was then inches wide from a Mustapha Carayol corner; the winger's centre flew towards the far post, but the grey-haired centre back was unable to divert the ball past Brill.

When the players re-emerged from the tunnel for the second half, Matt Harrold was not among them, Scott McGleish, who spent over three years at Barnet earlier in his career, the replacement. The under-fire Buckle, however, retained the tactics from the first half.

Richards twice burst from midfield, but failed to net a fifth goal of the season with either attempt.

Minutes later the young Welshman was floored after Danny Senda attempted to kick clear a head high ball, catching Richards in the process. Unfortunately, referee Lee Collins waved away calls for a penalty before stopping play just seconds afterwards for Richards to receive treatment.

The Gas, now attacking down the infamous Underhill slope, then had the opportunity they had been waiting for, Chris Zebroski's pace allowing him to run free of a clutch of orange shirts. Left one-on-one with Brill, the 25 year old was unable to hit the back of the net, Brill falling to his left and clutching the striker's shot.

Soon enough the home side broke the deadlock, League 2 top scorer McLeod the inevitable source. Poke played a high ball upfield which was sent back by a Barnet touch towards Downes and Cian Bolger. Neither player took control of the situation, allowing the ball to bounce between them, where McLeod's fleet feet left them for dead.

The ball was still bouncing and the on-loan stopper darted off his line to lessen the angle, only to see McLeod dink the final shot over his head for the opener, meaning the forward is now three clear at the top of the fourth tier scoring charts.

The arrival of Joe Anyinsah, in place of Craig Stanley, made no impact on the game and, with ten minutes still to run, Barnet put the game beyond Rovers.

The Bees won a corner, which was taken short to Ricky Holmes. With the visiting defence caught off guard, the frontman advanced down the byline and laid the ball off for Kamdjo to thump over the line and add to Gashead's world of misery.

Fifth Home Defeat Leaves Rovers Reeling

Bristol Rovers slumped to their first ever defeat to Barnet, going down 2-0 to the Londoner's at the Memorial Stadium and heaping pressure on manager Paul Buckle in the process.

Izale McLeod poked in the opener after 19 minutes before Mark Byrne finished the job, curling an effort around Scott Bevan with the final kick of the match.

The squad left the field to a chorus of 'we want Buckle out' from the home support, who are growing ever more tired of their sides inability to break down opposing sides, the manager taking the brunt of the criticism.

Two changes were made from the starting line-up that disposed of Corby in last weekends FA Cup tie; Matt Gill starting in central midfield while Joe Anyinsah replaced Scott McGleish, Chris Zebroski taking the veterans place up front, partnering Matt Harrold.

It was Zebroski who had the first chance on goal, prodding a right footed effort at Dean Brill's near post, though the goalkeeper was able to comfortably hold the ball in his arms.

McLeod's explosive pace was causing problems to the Rovers backline, the Gas lucky to escape without a red card after ten minutes. McLeod looked as though he was in behind after a ball over the top, only to be sent tumbling by last man Gary Sawyer 35 yards from goal, the referee's final decision lenient with the former Plymouth defender.

Matt Harrold headed against an upright from a Gill corner, but with the game an end-to-end affair it was the visitors who struck first with their own set-peice. Mark Byrne sent a corner towards the near post, Mark Hughes flicking the ball on before McLeod had the simple task of nodding over the line from two yards out.

Neither side was able to take a stranglehold on the game, both defences scrambling crosses out of their penalty areas. The only chances came from long range shots, Gill only yards away with one such dig on the turn, though he could only send the ball into the Rovers fans in the Blackthorn End.

Mark Marshall was a constant threat down the Barnet left, and early in the second half he found a yard of space to shoot, his final effort, however, was scuffed wide.

The home team were beginning to gain the ascendancy, yet still found themselves unable to break through. Full backs Danny Woodards and Lee Brown tried their luck from range, neither able to hit the target, while Mustapha Carayol snatched at a long distance strike which eventually bobbled comfortably to Brill.

With twenty minutes to go McGleish replaced Harrold, unfortunately the experienced forward was not to last long, falling heavily and eventually being replaced by Eliot Richards after a lengthy stoppage, leaving the field on a stretcher.

It was Richards who came closest of all to netting Rovers equaliser, hitting a stinging 30 yard half-volley that looked to be dipping goalwards. The back-peddling Brill, however, managed to tip the ball onto the crossbar, denying he youngster what would have been a stunning leveller.

Despite constant late pressure during the seven allocated minutes of stoppage time the gods looked against the Pirates. Sure enough, Byrne ended any hopes of a revival, beating Bevan from the edge of the box, leaving Buckle with the weight of the world on his shoulders as Rovers go into next Saturday's clash with league leaders Southend.

It's Quite Simple For Rovers

Bright, breezy football, the changes that have occurred at Bristol Rovers over the summer months have been incredible. It may be hard to put your finger on what exactly has changed, there has been so many, but let's have a look at some of them.

There are obviously some of the major differences in tactics, some complicated, but what is really notable is that Paul Buckle has got the simple things right, as seen in the 2-0 pre-season victory over Championship side Burnley.

Defensively the side are much improved with the line the back four are holding far higher than seen in previous years while the whole team press further up the pitch. Whereas last season a ball cleared out of the Rovers defence would not draw the side out of their defensive formation, often resulting in the opposition coming straight back on the attack, Buckle has instilled an attacking mindset, instructing his players to follow the ball out of the back and put immediate pressure on the adversary potentially resulting in errors and winning possession back.

The high pressure tactics aren't just restricted to defending in Rovers own half, early on in the game against Burnley we saw right back Michael Smith overlapping winger Jo Anyinsah and challenging in the opposition defensive third. Such forthright defending would have been unthinkable under Paul Trollope or Dave Penney and is a breath of fresh air for fans who had become well acquainted with their team backing off to the edge of their own area as soon as the ball was lost.

Aside from that fans also saw the full backs closing down their opposition wingers, aiming to prevent crosses into the box with great success. Never for a second were Burnley given the time to settle themselves into a passing rhythm, aside from the first minute the threat to the Gas was non-existent up until the last twenty minutes when the passing intensity was turned up a notch and Ross Wallace struck the crossbar with a spectacular long range effort. Rovers were comfortable right the way through the match and dominated in their own right, as poor as Burnley were the Pirates were excellent.

There were also insights into other attacking ploys that Buckle may use. The second half, for instance, saw Mustapha Carayol, the cheeky, jinking winger, and youth team graduate Ben Swallow take to the pitch in the wide positions. What was most notable about this was that Carayol, a right footer, and Swallow, a left footer, played on the flanks that opposed their stronger feet, often leading to the pair cutting inside or running along the byline when coming forward, showing a direct running approach that puts defenders on the back foot as they look to stop the dashing wide men.

That's not to say that you don't want to see high crosses put into the penalty area, when you've got players with the height and power of Matt Harrold and Chris Zebroski it is an excellent outlet, but there is the variation there whichever way Rovers want to play.

Even when defending corners Buckle's charges also showed an attacking approach by often leaving two or three players up by the halfway line, even when two goals to the good, resulting in Burnley having to leave more of their own players back to keep tabs on them.

One other notable point about Burnley was how dirty a side they were, numerous bad challenges resulted in Rovers players being thrown to the floor, perhaps though, this isn't a bad thing. The way Rovers have been playing thus far under Buckle, keeping the ball on the floor and free-flowing in their movement, is all very well in pre-season but when it comes to the real thing there are teams, especially in League 2, who will do their best to stop this game plan in anyway possible.

Carayol, Swallow and Joe Anyinsah amongst others will no doubt be a target for such treatment, the first was taken out at various points by the Clarets, but, having spent the best part of three seasons in lower league football, he will be used to this. It's not what any fan likes to see but it happens, some managers set their teams up for outright physicality, and this is one style that Rovers will have to deal with at some point during the long, arduous season and the way they hold themselves, both physically and mentally, will determine their success.

The goals on the night came from beanpole forward Harrold in the first half and substitute Eliot Richards in the second, both putting in excellent displays. Harrold gave what was expected of him, showing great strength and aerial ability to hold up and push the ball on, what was also good to see was a will to chase down the odd overhit pass as well as a couple of his own flick-ons. The goal was taken well, it came from a driven Matt Gill corner, and shows that Rovers have the capabilities to score from any situation.

Richards ran his socks off too and scored his goal very coolly, it was his second of the pre-season. Add that to his first league goal, scored against Colchester in the final game of last season, and it seems that the young Welshman is beginning to develop the talent and promise that he showed during his youth career. The experience of Scott McGleish will of course be a great help to the nineteen year old who will be battling for a place in not just the squad but the starting eleven as the season progresses.

All in all it was another excellent performance from the Gas, putting an experienced second tier club to the sword, and shows further promise for the season to come and much of it is down to perfecting the simplicities of the game.