Slim margins were all that separated a competitive contest between Bristol Rovers and League One promotion hopefuls Sheffield Wednesday at the Mem on Tuesday.
This game had defining moments that were both in and out of Rovers' control and they didn't go their way in a 2-1 defeat to the Owls. A slack pass from the returning Jarell Quansah, likely a product of rustiness after a three-game suspension, was ruthlessly punished by one of the league's best in Barry Bannan before the Gas shot themselves in the other foot by failing to clear a corner from the Scotsman, which was eventually forced home by Akin Famewo as Joey Barton's side failed with multiple opportunities get rid.
With Wednesday on the outside looking in at the top two and out of form, the pressure on Darren Moore's side to keep pace with Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town was huge and it felt a quickfire response from Rovers would transform the occasion. It duly arrived seconds after the break when Aaron Collins stormed onto a long ball from his goalkeeper James Belshaw and slid the ball home.
At that point, it was a 50/50 game. Like Saturday's draw with Derby County, the crowd was up and the Owls had a storm to weather. They may have had a slice of luck along the way as John Marquis' instinctive effort was ruled out for offside. From the East Stand, it seemed Marquis had strayed, but the footage tells a different story. It was a tight call that proved decisive; on another day, we're reflecting on a different decision and a different result.
But there were lessons to learn for Rovers as they build towards next season. For their control of possession and probing play in the second half, they made costly mistakes. Their opponents did not.
Fine margins as basics divide the teams
Across the past 180 minutes, Barton and his players will feel that a single point does not do justice to the performances they have delivered against two of League One's best teams. They dominated possession against Derby (70 per cent) and Wednesday (67 per cent) and enjoyed significant periods of control.
But looking ahead to August and beyond, if Rovers want to be in that sort of company at the top end of the table, the three sloppy goals conceded over Saturday and Tuesday cannot be allowed at the same rate.
Quansah can be forgiven for a slack pass after losing a bit of sharpness due to his suspension; these things happen, particularly in team that wants to progress the ball from back to front methodically. But it is the top teams that have the quality to punish you in those moments and Bannan is among the league's best when it comes to technical ability; his strike beyond Belshaw and into the side netting was sublime.
The second goal will be more galling for the Gas. Quansah, again, will be unhappy with his involvement, failing to clear his lines by heading Bannan's cross up rather than out, but no teammate could bail him out in what was a collective collapse of Rovers' defences from a set play. Famewo should never have had the chance to fashion a shot and put the Owls 2-0 in front.
Aden Flint got the customary welcome for any player connected to the other team in Bristol, but to his credit, he was a colossus in the air with several clearing headers to keep Rovers at bay. And when he headed it, he headed it, decisively clearing his lines like Rovers ought to have done in that crucial first-half moment that saw them slip two behind.
Between the boxes, there really is little to separate Rovers from the contenders in this league. In fact, Rovers have been better than both Derby and Wednesday in midfield in the past two games, at least on the ball. In attack, Rovers have the quality to compete – although Barton would never say no to more – but at the back, there are a few things for this young defence to iron out.
They have been outstanding in recent games and mistakes are inevitable. It is keeping them to a minimum that makes a team a viable promotion contender in the third tier.
As for the offside call, it was one of those that you need to go your way if you are to climb the mountain you have made for yourself by ceding two cheap goals. Unfortunately on this occasion, it didn't.
No shame as a streak ends
For the first time this season, the Gas were beaten at home by a team in the top seven. Sure, Peterborough United are the only side in that group Rovers have defeated, but Barton's side have played their part in some good battles with League One's elite in that time.
Goalless draws against Ipswich Town and Barnsley could have ended with more reward, with both free-scoring attacks blunted. Derby were outplayed and pegged back with a penalty at the last. Posh were handily beaten, more so than the 1-0 scoreline suggests. The 2-2 draw with Plymouth was perhaps the game of the season with both sides at full tilt.
Unfortunately, the Gas could not see out all seven games, falling at the sixth hurdle to the Owls, but there is no shame in that whatsoever. They would have wanted and deserved more than a single win, but the grit and quality shown in different moments has been impressive and the games have been indicative of both Rovers' ability to hang tough and the equaliser that the Mem can be.
In fact, Darren Moore's players deserve credit for the way they held firm as the atmosphere ramped up after Collins' strike upon the resumption. With the pressure of a promotion charge compounded by the noise from the terraces, they did well to hold on.
It is not news that Barton's Rovers tend to save their best performances for the better teams, and finding consistency is the holy grail of the summer, but with Bolton Wanderers the last of the promotion-chasers to visit BS7 on the final day of the campaign, the Gas will hope to ensure their home record against the top teams is a highly respectable one.
Time for 20
Ultimately, it had no say in the result, but Collins is back in the goals for the first time in eight games. It is the fourth of this year and the 16th of a fine individual season that had lost a bit of momentum – his last goal was at Oxford on February 25 – but with five fixtures remaining, his target remains in sight.
The 25-year-old has been open about his pursuit of a 20-goal season, and a milestone like that is what his campaign deserves. He has played a part in half of Rovers' goals this season by either scoring or assisting; his influence on the team is huge, even if his scoring returns have cooled off since the turn of the year.
This one was typical Collins, blending hard graft and the chase of a long ball that often would not yield a reward with blistering pace and a clinical finish. This is a player whose entire game has been upgraded significantly in the past 18 months, particularly when it comes to finishing.
Remember, there were some concerns about his ability in front of goal when he signed in 2021. It is a ridiculous thought now when considering the player he has become.
His hard work and leadership for this team as its star player deserve the prestige of a 20-goal campaign. It would be the first of his career and it would represent a significant step forward after hitting 18 in all competitions last season.
Collins is the type of striker who can get on a roll with many of his goals and assists coming in clusters throughout the campaign. From speaking to him at The Quarters last week and watching his performances of late, he is playing with no shortage of determination despite the fact Rovers have little to gain in terms of the league table in the final weeks.
With five outings left before the season is done, Collins will fancy his chances of hitting the back of the net a few more times after Tuesday's return to scoring form.
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