The 2020/21 season for Bristol Rovers is best summed up by that Simpsons episode when Sideshow Bob can't stop stepping on rakes. Pain was waiting for Gasheads everywhere they turned, but perhaps the most painful blow of all was dealt by Accrington Stanley.
Saturday's 2-0 defeat was nothing like that 6-1 embarrassment almost two years ago when the Gas last visited this corner of Lancashire; Rovers are a club in the ascendancy and this loss doesn't compare in the slightest. But the Gas received another Wham Stadium whack from a club that has their number on home turf, as the wait for an away win at the Crown Ground goes on.
"We got 'Accringtoned'," Joey Barton said after a scrappy, stop-start game played into the host's hands and they were able to profit. Rovers were sputtering until they fell behind, barely making an impression in the final third, and when Tommy Leigh's controversial second-half opener jolted them into action, they could not produce the same attacking potency that delivered back-to-back wins to start 2023.
For all the fair and due criticism of a disappointing performance, there is no getting away from the fact that referee Tom Nield changed the complexion of the game with his decision not to call handball against Harvey Rodgers immediately before Leigh struck the opening goal.
Rovers could have taken care of their own business better, but in a drab game that had all the hallmarks of a 0-0, the first goal was always going to be huge and the Gas were rightly aggrieved that it was allowed to stand. Whatever the rules say, it was handball.
Nonetheless, Rovers did not do enough, they shipped from a set play and they were unable to execute in each third of the pitch. Here are the talking points from their first league loss of the year...
Handball law is a farce
By the letter of the law, there is a case that Mr Nield made the correct call for the opening goal. Although Rodgers' arm brought Rosaire Longelo's diagonal under control, it was in a natural position and it was deemed unintentional.
Now, the vast majority of players and fans with an objective perspective of the incident would instinctively say it is handball because of the huge advantage that was gained, but rules are rules.
It is a bizarre quirk of the rulebook at the moment that if it was Leigh, the goalscorer, who handled the ball, a free-kick would have been awarded (see Marcus Rashford vs Everton in the Premier League in October), but because Rodgers wasn't the man to stick the ball in the net, it is allowed.
That, frankly, is nonsense. For a rule that is already complicated by subjectivity, having a situation where something can or can't be handball depending on which player touched it is absurd, and Rovers fell foul to that on Saturday.
Defensive needs grow
We'll delve deeper into Bobby Thomas' hasty exit in a moment; the primary focus for the Gas is what they have left behind. With Alfie Kilgour also leaving the club this week and Lewis Gibson on the injury list, the defence is in desperate need of reinforcements.
By and large, the Gas actually limited the number of chances they conceded on Saturday, but at the moment they cannot get through a relatively clean game, be it through cutting out mistakes or doing the basics well.
Accrington were solid but clearly short of cutting edge and they were going to need some help to get on the scoresheet. Their first goal, as stated above, was aided by a contentious decision/page in the rulebook, and the second came from the second contact from a set play – not the first time the Gas have struggled in a situation like that.
In fact, Ryan Astley's clever finish 11 minutes from time was the 11th goal conceded from a dead ball situation this campaign, the second-worst record in League One behind only Exeter City, according to WhoScored.
There were a couple of lucky escapes in the first half, too, with James Connolly looking uncomfortable up against the long ball for much of the afternoon, particularly when Shaun Whalley escaped behind him only to hit the post with only James Belshaw to beat. James Gibbons, who had a decent game, also breathed a sigh of relief when his miscued clearance was not punished after it was intercepted on the edge of the area.
Obviously, a back three of Connolly, Gibbons and Luca Hoole will not be the first-choice setup once the transfer deadline arrives, with the latter pair full-backs by trade, but reinforcements cannot come soon enough. For Connolly, in particular, you sense his dip in form will be quickly remedied by some fresh faces around him.
But in the meantime, Rovers' forwards will be relied on to score two or three goals a game. Most of the time, Aaron Collins and his attacking allies have been up to the task, but it is unsustainable and it caught up with the Gas on Saturday.
A rare blank as Accy hoodoo goes on
After a 16-game streak of scoring in each league game, the Gas drew a blank on Saturday. Coincidentally, the last time they failed to hit the back of the net was in the 1-0 defeat to Accrington in September, and Gasheads must be fed up of facing John Coleman's side, who have so often had the wood on their team over the years – with Rovers winless in eight visits.
Accrington are not the open, attacking team they have been over the years. They were more pragmatic on Saturday and they were effective in stifling Rovers' build-up play, limiting the platforms Collins and Josh Coburn had to work with.
Collins and Coburn did not have bad games; they still posed a threat and Coburn did all he could to hold the ball up despite being consistently fouled by Rodgers, but the disjointed nature of the game never allowed Rovers to build a head of steam.
The closest Rovers came was through the usual route. At 1-0 down, Collins broke down the right and delivered the kind of tantalising cross that has led to so many Coburn goals this season, but this one was no more than a couple of inches away from the striker's outstretched leg.
Drawing a blank is never ideal, but the reality is the front end of the team has been carrying the rest for the majority of the season and they can be forgiven for this one.
Both Accrington games this season have been frustrating, niggly affairs and if there is a positive to take it is the Gas have them out of the way, although the next assignment – the infamously awkward Wycombe Wanderers at the Mem on Saturday – is sure to be a similar challenge.
Thomas can play but he was not what Rovers needed
Having to make player departure announcements when the team news drops is not ideal and it was revealing of the way the Gas were caught out of the blue by Thomas' loan switch to Barnsley, which was confirmed within just a couple of minutes of his exit.
Bristol Live understands the decision was driven by the player, not Rovers or his parent club.
Rovers are not hugely disappointed by his departure, but by the way it played out, finding out on Friday just a few hours after sanctioning the departure of Kilgour to Mansfield Town.
As a result, Rovers were left undermanned and makeshift solutions were required as Thomas sat on the bench for the Tykes at The Valley, also losing 2-0. Until he is replaced, he will be missed.
But long-term, the Gas will hope they feel no lasting impact. It is no surprise to Rovers that they are in need of defensive reinforcements and they are active in the market. It was also possible that Thomas' loan could have been ended at Rovers' request before the end of the month in order to increase the number of loan signings they could make.
Thomas is a nice lad and he should be wished well for the future. As a player, he passes the eye test for the fundamentals you want to see in a young centre-back. He is mobile, can handle the ball and he is strong in the air, with his threat in the opposition's box evidenced by his three goals in his 19 appearances.
But as time has passed, the mistake count rose and his final game in a Rovers shirt – the EFL Trophy defeat to Plymouth Argyle in midweek – saw him culpable in both goals conceded.
The defensive record (45 goals conceded in 27 league games) speaks for itself. Rovers' backline needs freshening up this month and Thomas was likely to suffer in that process, based on Barton's comments before the Accrington game, but these are not the circumstances Barton wanted.
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