Bristol Rovers’ wait for a second home win of 2023 will enter a fourth month as the buoyancy of the win at Forest Green Rovers last weekend has been considerably deflated with back-to-back defeats at the Mem - both by the same 2-0 scoreline and with similar themes.
Having declared this final fifth of the campaign is as much of a fact-finding mission as it is to get points on the board, Joey Barton at least has gleaned that this incarnation of the Gas can’t consider themselves a top-half League One quality side yet.
Like Wycombe Wanderers before them, Portsmouth were strong, resolute, organised, committed, had a good goalkeeper between the posts and took their chances when presented to them. Not that the Gas didn't offer any of those characteristics, but the last one is becoming an increasing issue for a team who have lost a large part of their attacking verve and vivacity.
