Bristol Rovers won for the first time in eight games on Tuesday, but it says a lot about the perception of the EFL Trophy that the real positives for Joey Barton were not centred on the result. Instead, Rovers' injury problems are relenting and the defensive shortage that has marred the opening two months of the season is nearing an end.
The Gas were in control without ever leaving second gear against a callow Crystal Palace under-21s side at the Mem, tasting that winning feeling for the first time in 52 days after goals from Alfie Kilgour and Trevor Clarke. For some individuals, this was an important evening and a chance taken to advance their cases for first-team action, but for the manager the game caused annoyance more than anything else – irked by some of the bruising fouls his players took as well as a red card for Glenn Whelan that he described as "nonsense".
Ultimately, though, the events of Tuesday will be rapidly forgotten. The winning feeling will surely have been underwhelming, but that certainly will not be the case if the Gas get three points against Cambridge United in the league on Saturday. For Rovers, that is the be all and end all.
