A microcosm of their season, Bristol Rovers overcame a nightmare start at Port Vale to surge to victory on Easter Monday, sending a resounding statement to their rivals in the League Two promotion race.
Jamie Proctor forced the hosts ahead at Vale Park, but Joey Barton's Gas reverted to type and delivered yet another fine response when faced with adversity. No wonder the manager was so eager to praise the character of his team above all their other qualities as fifth-placed Rovers closed to within two points of Vale in the final automatic promotion berth with the 3-1 triumph.
The goals came from three January signings with very different narratives. The great Geordie hope Elliot Anderson was able to bolster his rapidly-growing reputation with another excellent strike to equalise before the unsung hero James Connolly bagged his first professional goal to put Barton's Gas in the lead before the break.
