It's a heck of a long way to come, 274 miles in fact, for a single point and to spend a day watching your team. It's a journey I've never had to make, I've actually never been further north than Birmingham, but kudos to those who take it on it shows massive support for their team and a damn deep pocket. Those Carlisle fans would have taken all three points home with them if it weren't for Mikkel Andersen's cruelty, stopping Gary Madine's spot kick with a firm left hand.
From the highlights, I must say, it looks like a penalty. When I was at the game I argued that Gary Sawyer had been forced into the ball with Mike Grella on his back but the replays show an outstretched arm in front of the on loan striker and the penalty was rightly given, despite what I thought at the time, the best place to see it from would have been the South Stand. With all that being said, though, a Carlisle win would probably not have been the right result.
They may have had more possession and taken more shots than Rovers it was the Gas who had the most clear cut chances, Jeff Hughes in particular at fault. From two yards out the Northern Irishman mistakenly trapped the ball at his feet when trying to knock it into the net and Carlisle keeper Adam Collin pushed the ball away at full stretch as it attempted to trickle agonisingly over the line. Collin also came out on top when Jo Kuffour came knocking, staying big enough to get something on Kuffour's effort. Charlie Reece was also unlucky, his looping shot came back off the post while the visitors also struck the woodwork twice, the threatening Madine saw a first half shot hit the upright and centre back Lubomir Michalik, on loan from Leeds, hit a half volley that took a deflection and came spectacularly off of the crossbar.
Rovers manager Paul Trollope would agree with the fact that the home side should have won. He told bristolrovers.co.uk:
"There was a lot of good stuff, I thought the players performed to a good level, and the crowd responded to that.
"I think that is as positive as we have been at home, there was a good energy about us, we produced some good play and put our bodies on the line defending when we had to.
"What cost us was we didn't get the second goal when we probably deserved it."
The overall team performance has clearly improved from the disasterous start to the season that Rovers had but thus far there have been two standour performers, Will Hoskins at the front and Byron Anthony at the back. Hoskins, top scorer for the Gas this season, put in another fine display, showing that he is comfortable across the front line, whether playing through the centre or being forced out wide and although he didn't get a clear sight of goal during the match he proved that he is an asset in terms of team play. Anthony was commanding at the back throughout, putting in a number of direct challenges and, as usual, throwing himself into the path of oncoming shots. He has also been a threat going forward, his two last minute goals earning a win and a draw for Rovers.
Up next for the Gas are Plymouth Argyle, a team currently sat in the League 1 drop zone. It's a trip of over two hours and yet it is still classed by most as a derby game, a rather unusual situation but Rovers should go in confident with a fully fit squad, compared to Plymouth who have been ravaged by injury and suspension. Argyle will be without Jim Patterson, Luke Summerfield, Carl Fletcher and possibly Reda Johnson through injury while Kari Arnason and Bondz N'Gala received red cards in their sides last game, a 4-2 loss to Oldham. But don't get complacent Gasheads, Rovers have already lost to two depleted sides in Tranmere and Swindon this season while they fought back to draw 2-2 with a Hartlepool side whose numbers were reduced through injury.
It's a tie that hasn't been seen since the teams met four times in the 2001/02 season, that year Plymouth came out on top in both League 2 games, 1-0 at home and 2-1 away, while Rovers won an FA Cup replay 3-2 after the first match had ended in a 1-1 draw.
Needless to say it will in no way be an easy game for the Gas, and with another long trip to Darlington next weekend you could forgive the players for feeling a little jaded as the weeks go by but their proffesionals and with two winnable games coming up fans can look on with a modicum of hope.
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