At times, it resembled a professional promotion with bodies on the deck, cross words aplenty, no shortage of drama and pantomime villains playing to the crowd. In the end, it finished with disappointment as Bristol Rovers were pegged back in the 99th minute to draw 2-2 with Fleetwood Town at the Mem on Saturday.
The Gas had done brilliantly to come from behind against a resolute Fleetwood team that led at half time through Shaun Rooney – the least popular man in BS7 on Saturday – with Rovers boss Joey Barton mustering a Plan B that changed the flow in the second half. Led by a dynamic front two in Josh Coburn and Aaron Collins, they both scored to put Rovers in the lead and between the two of them they created enough chances to win four or five games.
Opportunities to seal a deserved victory went begging and the tension levels increased as the final whistle neared, with seven minutes of added time to be played and the visitors heaving the ball into a packed penalty area in search of an equaliser. In the midst of the drama, Barton was sent to the stands; referee Robert Madden produced a straight red card, presumably for something the Rovers boss said.
