James Belshaw - 7
Did not have a save to make in the first half, although he was pleased to see one Liam Sercombe shot whistle over the bar and a second crack the outside of the post. However, he was left raging just moments into the second half after a bizarre error from James Connolly that gifted Alfie May the chance to pull one back and the striker finished the chance ruthlessly. Belshaw's kicking was a touch imprecise, but that was inconsequential, and he brought calm to his defence late on with a commanding claim from a threatening cross.
Bobby Thomas - 6
Never lacks confidence in driving forward on the ball, although he would have been concerned when he got caught under Sean Long's diagonal, allowing Alfie May an uncontested volley in the area. Thankfully for Rovers, the striker put it over the top. In the second half, Thomas seemed gripped by the uneasy mood that descended over BS7 once Cheltenham made it 2-1 with his play becoming more rushed and erratic, but he never shied away and the Gas just about got over the line.
James Connolly - 5
Only one place to start, unfortunately. The defender gives Rovers plenty with his ability on the ball, but an inexplicable error at the start of the second half gifted Cheltenham a route back into the game. Under no pressure whatsoever, he passed the ball straight to May with no Rovers players in the area. One can only presume he played the pass blind without looking and the striker snaffled up the chance. Credit to Connolly, after a chaotic few minutes he settled himself down and guided Rovers to the end.
Lewis Gibson - 6
Composure was not evident in abundance among Rovers' defenders on New Year's Day, but Gibson seemed the most settled of the bunch until he was forced off with an injury in the second half. Moved the ball relatively well on a sodden surface. Barton will be desperate for good news after what looked like a muscle injury brought his afternoon to an early end.
Harry Anderson - 7
His first-half performance encapsulated everything that was good about the collective effort. He was full of positivity and energy, laying on a great chance for Sam Finley in addition to covering a welcome outlet on the right flank.
Paul Coutts (c) - 6
Rovers moved the ball relatively well on a sluggish pitch in the first half and Coutts helped keep it ticking over as the Gas dominated possession. Like Finley, he had fewer chances to impose himself on the game after the break but the captain steered his team to three points.
Sam Finley - 6
Finley ought to have done better with a great chance at 0-0 that was created by a cutback from Anderson, but the midfielder passed progressively in the first half and that brought the opening goal. Finley curled a ball forward for Collins to run onto and the striker showed his class to take it in stride and score. After the Gas gifted the momentum to Cheltenham at the start of the second half, they lost authority in the middle of the park and Finley's influence was muted until he was withdrawn near the end.
Antony Evans - 6
Evans kept his place in the starting XI despite being hooked after a difficult first half on Thursday. This was a scrappy contest throughout and Evans' tenacity was valuable, making a crucial block from May's shot with the score at 2-1. There were some nice touches, particularly in the second half to help the Gas regain composure and win the territory battle. Will want to make more of an impression in possession, though, but that was not the order of the day with the way the game played out.
Scott Sinclair - 7
A performance that started with some sparkle, with Ryan Broom caught out by his trickery, but it was his nous that became so valuable in the end. The Gas showed their inexperience and needed helping over the line from their experienced players. In stoppage time, Sinclair brought the calm that was required, bleeding crucial seconds off the clock.
Josh Coburn - 7
The ball wasn't quite sticking for him in the opening exchanges, but he quickly found his footing and netted his eighth goal of the season, combining with Collins yet again to scurry away from the offside trap and finish nicely with Luke Southwood closing him down. The second half was one to forget, though, with Coburn unable to make an impression before being taken off.
Aaron Collins - 9
Where would Rovers be without him? Particularly on a day like today, when the performance goes off the rails, his class shone through. He scored a fine opener, showing his developing skills as an all-round striker to angle his body and hold off a defender before shooting past Southwood. Collins was pivotal in the second goal, too, spinning away from a pair of challenges to create a chance from nothing and his through ball was finished off by Josh Coburn. His impact was reduced significantly in the second half with Rovers on the back foot, but there were one or two important runs to alleviate the pressure late on.
Substitutes
Luca Hoole (for Gibson on 59') - 7
All of Barton's subs made a decent impact, with Hoole not cowed by the pressure of the situation he came into.
James Gibbons (for Anderson on 69') - 7
Like Hoole, Gibbons was an impactful introduction on the outside of the defence. A firm challenge on Broom delighted the crowd.
Ryan Loft (for Coburn on 69') - 7
He was the remedy for the malaise that gripped the Gas after the interval. He could have been sharper with his touches of the ball, but his hard running was welcome, helping his team to get higher up the pitch. Had to play Sinclair in late on, though.
Luke McCormick (for Finley on 80') - 7
Like Loft, he made a positive impact off the ball once he was introduced, meaning the Gas were spending less time defending on the edge of the box.
Glenn Whelan (for Evans on 80') - 7
The right man for the situation and he calmed things down, helping Rovers over the line.
Not used: Anssi Jaakkola, John Marquis.
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