The EFL Trophy can be fun, it turns out. Mix in a few youngsters and players out of position, coupled with a mutual decision to abandon caution and entertainment ensues. That was the case, particularly in the second half, as Bristol Rovers travelled to Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.
For differing reasons – Plymouth's hopes of being in the League One promotion shakeup and Rovers' focus on getting past the 50-point mark as soon as possible to secure their third-tier status – this competition is bottom of the pile for both clubs. The hosts made eight changes from the weekend and Rovers made six, although Joey Barton – absent through illness – may have preferred to make more injury and transfers situations allowed.
The result was a couple of teams with talent and experience in different areas and a lack of cohesion that would be expected from the first-choice lineups. But rather than making for a drab, disjointed game, this descended into basketball mode as the minutes went by, with each team taking turns to attack their stretched opponents by the end.
There ought to have been more than a goal apiece at the end of the 90 minutes but both teams were profligate with their chances, and a 4-3 defeat in the shootout left a sour taste for the Gas.
There were positives for Barton to take from afar, but the reality is – for all the fun of this playground-like game where Glenn Whelan was by the end the only adult on duty, doing the lion's share of the defensive work throughout – this trip to Devon will be quickly forgotten with more important engagements on the horizon, namely the end of the transfer window on Thursday and Saturday's League One clash with Morecambe.
Two in two
Ryan Loft scored his second goal of the week to give Rovers the lead at Home Park, and it was a showcase of the attributes he brings as a centre-forward.
He is a strong runner and was just too powerful for Macaulay Gillesphey, an experienced defender rather than a youngster given a runout for the evening. The finish was ruthless, too, showing the same conviction in front of goal that he displayed when putting the Gas ahead against Shrewsbury on Saturday.
Goals are the currency that he will be judged on. After scoring just once for Rovers last season following his move from Scunthorpe United in January, having two to his name by the end of August is a very positive sign.
Loft remains pretty raw, though, and he has developing to do, although his pair of goals doubtless will boost his confidence, which can only be an asset for Barton and his coaching staff.
"He’s got to tidy up his build-up," first-team coach Andy Mangan explained on Tuesday. "The thing is, Lofty is tall and those tall ones don’t come into play until they’re about 27, really. You only have to look at Cole Stockton at the moment. Cole Stockton is coming through at Morecambe and I’m assuming he’s going to leave, or he’s attempting to leave.
"Everyone wants him now. I played with Cole when he was younger and he wasn’t the player he is now. Those big boys just take a bit of time.
"With Lofty, he’s done great and he’s come back in pre-season really fit with the bit between his teeth. You can see his hard work is paying off now with two goals in two games and he’s actually looked a lot more dangerous than he did last season.
"Lofty’s done great. It’s a massive present for us, really, because he’s gone away at the end of last season and thought ‘How am I going to get in this side?’ but he hasn’t, he’s had a fantastic attitude, he’s worked hard over the summer and he’s come back and is getting the rewards now. We’ve got to be patient with him and we will be better."
The learning curve
It was a night to remember for two homegrown prospects, with 17-year-old Jerry Lawrence and Harvey Greenslade, 18, featuring at Home Park. Lawrence was making his first start after debuting at Burton earlier this month, while it was a first competitive appearance for attacking prospect Greenslade.
For both players, it was a learning experience. Lawrence was much more impactful in the second half, responding to calls in the dressing room at half time to show more belief on the ball. He was much more positive in possession thereafter and he provided the ball over the top that led to Loft's goal.
Lawrence was replaced after 70 minutes, but Gasheads are likely to see a bit more of him throughout the season; the coaching staff like what they see from the central midfielder.
Greenslade came off the bench in the final quarter of the game and was deployed in an unfamiliar role at right wing-back, but he showed a couple of bursts forward and sent Ryan Jones on the attack with a smart first-time pass.
The evening ended on a sour note, though, with Callum Burton saving his penalty in the bonus point shootout, but the outcome of these games is largely unimportant. What matters is what can be learned about players and Greenslade showed he has plenty of character to step up and take part in the shootout.
Glenn does it again
When Joey Barton has a problem, Glenn Whelan is often the man he turns to to solve it. Barton was absent on Tuesday due to illness, but Whelan delivered another fine shift for the manager, this time in the centre of the back three.
Despite the frenetic, chaotic tempo that took hold in the second half, the Irishman was controlled and measured, getting Rovers out of trouble time and again.
In isolation, it was an excellent performance out of position, but in the bigger picture it highlighted the player-coach's value to the Gas.
"Whelo’s the standard-bearer of our football club," Mangan said. "He drives standards in training, he demands everyone performs at the level he performs at.
"If you say to him he did well tonight, he might not even thank you. That’s just what he expects from himself. He’s brilliant and he’s someone you learn from not only as a coach, but someone you can take great confidence from knowing when you step him out onto the pitch, as he has in recent weeks even though he’s a coach, you’ll get a level of performance which will actually drive others on to do better as well."
SIGN UP: To receive our free Rovers newsletter, bringing you the latest from the Mem
READ NEXT:
