After weeks of improved performances that have solidified Bristol Rovers' place in League One upon their return to the third tier, Joey Barton watched his side's standards slip in a 2-0 defeat at Port Vale on Saturday.
Rovers have known for a little while that they will be one of League One's 24 clubs next term – and rarely has it looked possible that they wouldn't be – but it was officially confirmed despite an error-strewn display at Vale Park as Ellis Harrison and Tom Pett pounced on poor first-half defending to claim the points.
Against much better opposition in Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County in the seven days previously, Rovers were much better than this and it has been a puzzling issue all season that they have reserved their poorer outings for the teams in and around the bottom third of the table.
