Relief At Last

Commitment, passion, pride. Three attributes required to win any game of football, let alone a local derby. And did I mention survival on the line?

Twelve games had gone by since Gasheads had seen a Bristol Rovers victory and the wait for the next was becoming tense.

Rovers were sat in 22nd place in the League 1 table, two points off of survival but having played a game more than both Yeovil and Tranmere above them. The Glovers had won their last three games too so no change could mean Rovers slipping adrift of the pack. Swindon had been in decidedly dodgy form also and last years play-off finalists were just four points above Rovers in 19th place leaving it all to play for, and it all started so well.

Just six minutes in a neat passing move saw Chris Lines slip in Will Hoskins who dinked the ball over the onrushing Phil Smith to put the Gas into the lead, but having let advantages slip in two of their last three home games the fans and players alike knew it wasn't over yet.

For the first ten minutes it seemed that Dave Penney's application of pressing tactics was being implemented well, the midfield weren't dropping immediately to the edge of their own area as they had been under the leadership of Paul Trollope, all good then, or maybe not. A goal to the good and putting decent pressure onto Swindon, Rovers began to drop off the opposition and allow them masses of time and space and the match started to go backwards for them.

They kept battling and creating chances though, and there were signs that some of their neat passing may pay-off later in the game, there were less hopeful punts up field towards the 5'9" and 5'7" strikers and possession was being kept well.

It was all even until the second goal of the game, Jo Kuffour capitalising on dodgy passing among the Swindon back line as he rounded the 'keeper to double Rovers advantage. The home side continued to force themselves back and give Swindon time on the ball, Robins captain Jonothan Douglas sitting deep and spraying a number of passes to his teammates as they pushed for a way back into the game and with 24 minutes left they found one, David McCracken, on loan from Brentford, missed a header on the edge of the area and allowed John-Paul McGovern into the penalty area and smash the ball past a rooted Luke Daniels.

This only spurred the Pirates on, however, and they began to work the ball around again and a Will Hoskins cross found Jeff Hughes who glanced in to seal victory, his fourth goal in his last four games against Swindon.

It was an impressive and confident performance from a side who have lacked a solidity over recent months and although Swindon had overall more chances than Rovers it was only the goal and one other effort that really looked dangerous, Luke Daniels mopping up a number of weak attempts on his goal. The dangerman for Swindon was supposed to be Charlie Austin. The youngster scored 20 goals in his first season since signing from Poole Town last term and was already on 17 this year and has scored against Rovers in the past but he was kept subdued by the partnership of Anthony and McCracken, the latter being dominant in the air. Carl Regan and Gary Sawyer in the full back positions had erratic moments and were often caught out by the pace of McGovern and Ritchie on the flanks, and failed to close down Swindon in the wide areas, something that was a purposeful tactic under Paul Trollope.

The midfield area has been a problem this season, often outmuscled and missing when it matters they were much improved, Jeff Hughes and Chris Lines putting in real shifts and showing that their form last season wasn't just a fluke. Lines in particular was singled out by Dave Penney in his post match interview, Penney saying:

"I thought Chris Lines had his best game since I had been here today, running the midfield, and you could see he is a good player.

Ben Swallow continues to make progress on the left flank and is certainly looking a good prospect for seasons to come as he looked to force himself upon defenders and the way he harried the Swindon back four when in they had the ball will earn him the respect of the Rovers fans.

Will Hoskins form up to now has been imperious, and it was to be no different against the Robins. After his early goal, following a surging run and a cheeky finish, he continued in the same vain. Not only did he work hard in the centre of the pitch Hoskins also worked the channels and wasn't afraid to get into wide areas, Rovers third coming courtesy of a Hoskins cross from the left. If he keeps working away the Leagues joint second highest scorer could come under the transfer spotlight again, Rovers already having turned down three bids from Championship Scunthorpe.

His strike partner Jo Kuffour worked hard, showing good strength to hold the ball up on numerous occasions, most notably in the sixth minute when he controlled the ball and laid it off to Lines to skip Hoskins in for the opener. The former Arsenal trainee also showed his intelligence as he took full advantage of Swindon's mistake at the back to slot home.

Rovers boss Dave Penney was delighted with the way his team applied themselves to the game, telling bristolrovers.co.uk:

"We got the early goal which got us going, got the supporters behind us.

"We score at the right times really, just after half time we scored the second and killed the game off a little bit, they got one and then we went back down the other end and got the third and really killed the game off.

"I couldn't have asked for much more from the players, the 11 stayed out on the pitch as they were excellent, there was no need to change it, and they all looked fit and sharp.

"It was important for me as a manager to get a result, and I think it is a bit sweeter that it was against a team just down the road."

When Penney took over one of his biggest complaints with the squad was the lack of fitness among the players and so to see the starting eleven remain on the pitch until full time will be heartening and shows the progress that has been made already.

One comment from the gaffers post match interview that some fans may find disheartening was that he feels he only has two players in central midfield that he feels he can rely on in Chris Lines and Stuart Campbell. With Dominic Blizzard having been placed on the transfer list on Friday it is becoming apparent that Wayne Brown, signed on a free from Fulham in the summer, is now falling out of favour. Brown has scored a single goal in his eleven starts thus far this season but has made little impact overall, spending the majority of his time on the right hand side of midfield, whereas his preferred position is in the centre. He is still young, though, and learning his trade as he goes along and there have been glimpses of talent there but perhaps Penney feels that his 5'5" frame is not what is required in the centre with his side in the mire.

On two occasions Rovers fans could be forgiven for having a look of fright on their faces, firstly when Byron Anthony smashed head first into the Swindon woodwork when committedly flinging himself at a corner. Deeper into the first half top scorer Will Hoskins pulled up after chasing a ball wide on the Swindon back line, collapsing off of the pitch and requiring Rovers physio Phil Kite to sprint round from the opposite touchline to treat the former Watford man. A slice of tape later and the striker was soon back up on his feet, sprinting straight back into the action and Gashead hearts dropped from their mouths.

For Swindon it looks as though there is a real threat from the drop zone and the pressure on Danny Wilson looks to be reaching an insurmountable level. Keeping hold of Charlie Austin will be key for the Robins but that seems less and less likely as the days go by, although any scouts the the Memorial Stadium wouldn't have seen the display of a potential Championship striker.

If it weren't for Tranmere stunning Southampton, Rovers would be out of the relegation zone but overall results went their way, Dagenham and Walsall below them losing ground on the Gas, and Notts County, plus Swindon of course, losing means that they are within touching distance of those above them. Walsall are the next team to challenge the Gas, the sort of game that Rovers must be getting three points from if they are to survive. The Bescot beckons.