With some John Marquis magic, Scott Sinclair's quality and a turbulent last 10 minutes, Bristol Rovers took another big step towards their target with a 3-1 win over Forest Green Rovers at The New Lawn on Saturday.
Rovers' renewed confidence was on show as Charlie Savage's fine opening goal against the run of play inside a quarter of an hour did nothing to upset their poise. Instead, Joey Barton's side stayed to the script and were deservedly in front thanks to goals from Marquis and Sinclair against League One's bottom side by half time.
It should have been a comfortable conclusion when the in-form Marquis doubled his tally with a cute glancing header from Sinclair's pinpoint corner on the hour, but James Belshaw was left with a penalty to save after substitute Luke McCormick endured a nightmare eight-minute stay on the pitch and was unceremoniously hooked off. And save it Belshaw did, denying a limp effort from Corey O'Keeffe from the spot and preventing an awkward conclusion against a team playing with pure desperation after being cut adrift at the foot of the table.
