The Bristol Rovers squad are sunning themselves in Dubai after owner Wael Al-Qadi funded an end-of-season promotion party getaway for the Gas squad following a truly exceptional conclusion to the campaign in which they claimed third place and an instant passage into League One on the final day.
That Scunthorpe result and occasion at the Mem will live long in the memory but, as opposition manager Keith Hill alluded to after the game, it was the culmination of a 46-match campaign in which the Gas started with a struggle but hit their stride at the turn of the new year and never looked back.
With another campaign finished and thoughts very soon turning to 2022/23, it's a chance to look back on the last nine months and here is a potted review of the season via the medium of statistics, revealing standout individuals, reliable presences and some of the reasons why Rovers are lying on sun loungers in the Middle East bearing smiles of immense satisfaction.
0.7 - goals or assists per 90 minutes by Antony Evans, only five players in the league managed more, with Forest Green’s Matt Stevens leading the standings on 0.87. Elliot Anderson is one place below Evans with 0.67 and Aaron Collins 25th as the next-best Rovers player with 0.48.
2.1 - successful dribbles by Elliot Anderson with Sam Nicholson second on 1.2. The Newcastle loanee was 10th overall, with Forest Green’s Kane Wilson leading that particular metric on 2.8.
3.8 - shots per 90 minutes attempted by Elliot Anderson, the most at the Gas (with Leon Clarke second on 3.0 of players who made more than five appearances). That figure also ranked Anderson eighth overall in League Two.
7 - Rovers failed to score in only seven matches this season, joint lowest with Swindon. Three of those games were at the Mem and four on the road.
13 - yellow cards given to Sam Finley making him the joint second-most booked player in the league behind Barrow’s Oliver Banks who had 14.
18 - times Sam Nicholson was substituted, more than any other Rovers player. Aaron Collins was taken off 13 times and Harry Anderson and Antony Evans 11 times. Luke Thomas was Rovers' most used substitute, brought on 18 times, followed by Glenn Whelan was 12.
19 - set-piece goals scored by Rovers, third most in League Two. 44 of their strikes over the course of the season were in open play which accounts for 62 per cent of their total goals for.
21 - goals scored by Rovers in the final 15 minutes of games, more than any of their rivals, with Exeter second on 18. Rovers also scored 46 second-half goals compared with 25 in the first half. Only Swindon scored more after half-time with 52.
25 - times Aaron Collins was caught offside, fifth most in the league, with Freddie Sears of Colchester (42) and Exeter’s Jevani Brown (30) first and second.
29 - players made at least one league start this season (compared with 30 last season): James Belshaw led the way with 42, Connor Taylor second on 41 followed by Harry Anderson with 39.
38 - goals scored at the Mem, only Swindon and Mansfield (both 40) managed more at home. Rovers also ranked third for goals on the road with 33, Forest Green $2) and Swindon (43) above them.
54 - points won by Rovers since January 1, top of the table ahead of Exeter with 51 and Mansfield with 45. That haul extrapolated over a 46-game season would have seen them reach 99 points. On December 31, 2021, the Gas were 12 points off third place with a minus 6 goal difference.
54.5 - passes per game for Paul Coutts, the most at Rovers and sixth overall. James Connolly was second at the Gas with 45.1 and Cian Harries third on 43.6.
56.2 - average possession over the course of the campaign for Rovers; only Swindon Town managed a higher number with 60 per cent. Rovers’ 71 per cent pass accuracy was the fourth most efficient in the division.
68 - total key passes (a pass leading to a shot) by Antony Evans. Sam Finley is second on 53 and Sam Nicholson third with 44. Evans is 12th overall in the league with Forest Green’s Nick Cadden first with 127.
74 - times Connor Taylor was fouled over the course of the season, the most in the Gas squad with Aaron Collins second on 54. Antony Evans committed the most fouls with 72, Sam Finley second on 50.
75.2 - James Belshaw’s save percentage, the joint third best in the league (Tranmere’s Joe Murphy is first with 82.4). Belshaw delivered 17 clean sheets, fourth overall with Liam Roberts of Northampton first with 21.
80.9 - per cent, Paul Coutts’ pass success over the course of the season. Elliot Anderson is second on 77.8 and Glenn Whelan third on 77.6.
95 - yellow cards for Rovers, only Leyton Orient (104) and Barrow (113) had more. The Gas also topped the standings in terms of reds with nine. Mansfield second on seven.
206 - aerial duels won by Connor Taylor, the most at Rovers and 17th overall in the league. The defender only lost 86, meaning his heading efficiency was an impressive 70.5 per cent.
404.8 - passes per game, third highest in the division behind Rochdale (436.9) and Swindon (486.1). Interestingly, Rovers rank joint last for crosses per game with 16.
3,780 - minutes played by James Belshaw, Connor Taylor is second with 3,570 and Harry Anderson third on 3,440.
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