Not since May 7 has the Mem roared like this. All that prevented a new chapter from being written in the collection of crazy tales involving Joey Barton's Bristol Rovers was an elusive third goal.
Instead, the Gas had to settle for a point against League One leaders Plymouth Argyle, storming back from 2-0 down, but in the process, they proved a point to themselves. Recent weeks have been hugely encouraging, with Rovers riding a five-match winning streak into the game, but this was the first time this season they were able to roll with the punches and strike blows of their own against one of the division's big hitters.
Finn Azaz and Adam Randell both scored stunning goals, but Rovers nor the crowd were deterred, and a roll of the dice from Barton at half time was swiftly rewarded with substitute Josh Coburn halving the deficit within moments of taking to the pitch.
Aaron Collins got the assist for that goal, and he scored the next, making it 2-2 with the hour mark looming, taking his tally of goal involvements to 16 in 15 league games this season, but the most crucial man in that passage of play was the outstanding Ryan Loft with a brilliant piece of skill to unlock the door to the Argyle goal.
With the decibel level nearing Scunthorpe territory – albeit with the stakes much lower on Saturday – huge credit must go to Argyle for weathering the storm and getting back on the M5 with a point for their efforts.
Few teams in League One would have stood up to the onslaught that the Gas produced, so while there may be a hint of frustration that two points may have got away, their confidence doubtless will only have risen more.
Yes, Rovers have been on a fine run of form, and no, they did not win, but they reached new levels of performance on Saturday and that is the ideal preparation for a pair of away trips to Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County next week.
Rovers prove a point to themselves
In the depths of injury despair amid an eight-game winless run that stretched from mid-August to early October, Barton remained adamant he had the makings of a good team in place. In recent weeks, with the squad strengthened, they have shown they are made for this level, with impressive wins over Cambridge United, MK Dons and Cheltenham Town – a trio of teams they are competing against in their primary goal of avoiding relegation.
But on Saturday, Rovers proved to themselves that they have what it takes to belong alongside the pace-setters in the division, particularly with a home atmosphere like this to fuel a relentless shift from each and every player in blue and white.
They may not have won – and there was a tinge of disappointment from the manager as the third goal eluded him with his team rampant – but they showed the hallmarks of a good team.
There was resilience, fighting back from a pair of stunning goals that would have dispirited a more fragile team. There was quality; both of Rovers' goals were fine creations but the second, in particular, was an encapsulation of what they are at their best under Barton – winning the ball high up the pitch, breaking into the box with an incisive reverse pass from Jordan Rossiter and Loft showing the presence of mind and ability to flick the ball Collins' way and the Welshman tucked it away.
But there was also ambition. Rovers wore their hearts on their sleeves and time and again, from the men on the pitch to those in the technical area, they conducted the atmosphere and beckoned more noise. There was no desire to settle for a point against the league's leading team; to the end, Rovers went in pursuit of victory.
Recent weeks have left Gasheads wondering what might be possible this season. The best bet remains a mid-table finish, but this is a team they can enjoy. Rovers proved they can compete with anyone, even with a two-goal disadvantage. Wherever the journey takes them this season, expect them to make waves along the way.
South West Scouseball
This was a game between two South West clubs, but there was a distinct Liverpudlian flavour. In the dugouts and on the pitch were plenty of scousers, and the 90 minutes reflected the ethos of that footballing hotbed.
Like Barton, Argyle coaches Steven Schumacher and Mark Hughes came through the ranks at Everton, adding spice to the contest alongside the Rovers boss' hopes of getting one over on Plymouth director of football Neil Dewsnip.
Both teams deserve huge credit. Neither took a backwards step as it became incredibly stretched in the second stanza, and the result was a thrilling game at the centre of a crackling atmosphere.
It was a game made for tenacious midfielders like Rossiter and Sam Finley – Liverpool and Everton products respectively – with the former particularly effective. He has played predominantly as a number six in Barton's midfield so far, but in the second half on Saturday he moved forward to play as a number eight, making use of his ball-winning ability closer to the opposition goal and it reaped rewards with Rossiter snaring the ball and popping up with the pass that led to Collins' equaliser.
It was high-octane, loud and highly entertaining, a game reflecting the characters and football cultures at the heart of it.
Barton releases the handbrake
The Rovers boss has demonstrated time and again that he will not be passive when faced with adversity. He wants his teams to fight their way out of a corner and they did precisely that on Saturday.
His team had played pretty well in the first half without creating the volume of chances he would have wanted, and with Plymouth boasting a two-goal advantage, he rolled the dice at half time.
Wing-backs Joe Edwards and Bali Mumba may have been causing the Gas problems, but Barton risked it. Luca Hoole was sacrificed for an extra striker in Coburn and winger Harry Anderson moved to right-back.
It was a statement of intent that was instantly rewarded, with both Anderson and Coburn at the heart of the move as the Gas pulled one back within two minutes of the Middlesbrough loanee being introduced from the bench. Anderson had played the searching ball forward for Collins to chase and Coburn bundled home the cross.
But that goal was not the only product of the tactical tweaks. Midfielders Finley and Rossiter changed positions at half time, with Finley taking up the deeper role in a bid to get on the ball more, while Rossiter moving forward enabled the Gas to make their pressing attempts more effective with his tackling ability at the fore.
Coburn's big moment came in the six-yard box for his goal, but he did plenty of work outside the penalty area, too. He feasted on balls into the channel, giving defenders Nigel Lonwijk and Brendan Galloway a torrid second half and creating several good moments for the Gas.
Weeks ago, Barton was without the reinforcements to change a game from the bench due to injuries, but what was a weakness is now an immense strength. Paul Coutts injury is a blow, of course, but James Connolly will be back soon and Scott Sinclair is building the fitness, leaving the squad in a solid position and giving Barton flexibility before and during games.
'Unplayable'
"I look today, he’s unplayable at times, he really is," Barton said, reflecting on what was perhaps Loft's best performance in the blue and white quarters.
He gave his team everything except a goal of his own. In the first half, he showed his physicality and made an impression on the Argyle back three, creating avenues of attack for Collins et al, although the Gas did not capitalise.
In the second half, Loft grew as a goal threat, forcing a strong save from Mike Cooper and a few minutes later the big striker swerved a shot into the side netting from 20 yards.
The highlight of his performance was an inspired flick after being found in the area by Rossiter. Loft and Collins have built excellent chemistry this season and the attacking duo were on the same wavelength when the former Scunthorpe striker backheeled the ball, perfectly in time with Collins' surging run and the Welshman finished the chance clinically to make it 2-2.
It was officially Loft's second assist of the season in League One to go with six goals in all competitions, but the reality is he has created far more goals than that this season. His presence alone is a problem for defenders; he knows how to use his 6ft 4in frame and he has enough speed to challenge centre-backs in behind.
His emergence has given Rovers a new edge, the ability to play long in a coordinated fashion, and Collins is an excellent player to have feeding off his knockdowns. At the start of the summer, it did not seem like Loft's place at the club was certain, let alone his place in the team after a sluggish start to his Rovers career.
Instead, he has joined the core of key players. In this form, he gives so much to his team with and without the ball, and he is making his teammates better.
A rising talent
With the likes of Loft and Collins deservedly getting their praise, Lewis Gordon will go under the radar but the left-back delivered another excellent performance on Saturday. Assignments in League One don't come much tougher than an in-form Bali Mumba but the 21-year-old was able to contain his counterpart.
Gordon has had a steep learning curve since joining the Gas on a free transfer after being released by Brentford in the summer, but as the team has settled into place, he has started to make rapid progress in his development.
Defensively, he has handled his duties mostly well since day one, but the attacking side of his game has not been as apparent. On Saturday, however, he had his most impactful outing going forward yet. He was brave to press high up the pitch as well as running into space out wide. On one occasion, he showed a cool head to cut back a pass for Loft rather than curling a hopeful cross and it led to a chance for the striker.
Barton made clear his delight at Gordon's progress in recent weeks in his post-match press conference. The manager said: "I thought he was outstanding today. Bali Mumba is a really good player and he nullified him today. Lewis was first-class in everything he did.
"The lads have just given him an ovation in the dressing room due to the quality of his performance. You forget he is only 21 and another young lad and that will do wonders for his condfidence because he’s competed against the top team and also Mumba is a really good player."
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