Bristol Rovers had two victories in the first seven days of January. It took seven weeks for the next one to come, but at last Joey Barton's side are back in the winners' circle with a dominant 3-0 win over Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.
The Gas were fully deserving of the three points against a hapless Oxford. Both teams were in woeful form when Charles Breakspear blew the first whistle, but the atmosphere in the three-sided wind trap that is the Kassam was entirely different to anything the Mem has seen this season.
The silence of the home fans was punctuated by toxicity; brutal calls for manager Karl Robinson to be sacked were aired on repeat and dreaded banners were unfurled at full time. An unpleasant scene though it was, it was not a concern for the Gas.
If this was to be a slugfest between two punch-drunk teams at the bottom of the form table, Rovers decided the contest with a crisp one-two combination midway through the first half.
The Gas were just starting to take control when Lamare Bogarde arrived on the blindside of Cameron Brannagan to win a penalty, which was authoritatively dispatched by Scott Sinclair, showing no signs of trepidation after spurning his previous spot-kick.
Minutes later, Sinclair was the creator, latching on to John Marquis' through ball and squaring it for Aaron Collins to score his 15th goal of the season.
Oxford, of course, had their moments as they searched for a route back into a game which may be the last of Robinson's tenure, but they could not muster a chance of any significance with James Belshaw going untested on his return to the XI – his most potentially-awkward action coming from a horribly miscued Sam Long cross that resembled a rugby up-and-under which threatened to drop under the crossbar, yet Belshaw clung on in commanding fashion.
The Gas had to weather a headwind rather than a storm from an Oxford side flirting dangerously with the relegation picture, but the second-half arm wrestle went decisively in Rovers' favour as the final 20 minutes arrived and if an image summed up the gulf between two sides separated by just one place and one point going into the game, it was Luca Hoole towering high above anyone in a yellow shirt to nod in a third and give the Gasheads a moment they have had to wait too long for.
At last, the 38-point barrier – the total that Rovers mustered in the whole of their last season in League One when they finished bottom – had been traversed and they are looking upwards again. There will be many more difficult assignments in their final 13 games, but the Gas have their 1,437 travelling fans a day to enjoy after being forced to wait.
That's more like it
The seven-game winless leading into this game was underpinned by young players short of confidence and experienced, established players out of form, but across the pitch the Gas were back on their game here.
In defence, there was solidity, yet composure, as the Gas stayed true to their principles of playing out from the back and there were no signs of the aimless and brainless long balls that they came up with defeat to Burton Albion last week.
Instead, there were more educated decisions made on the ball, with Jarell Quansah's diagonal long passes a much better avenue of attack than the long, straight hoofs that were easily defended seven days' previously.
As a result, Rovers were able to get better attacking platforms, with the hard work and physical hold-up play of John Marquis particularly influential with a hand in the first two goals.
The stats show Oxford had more possession, but that is skewed by a second half when Rovers were able to stay compact in shape and play on the counter against a team that was desperately chasing the game.
All of a sudden, the outlook is brighter for the Gas, with Jodan Rossiter and Josh Grant the only names left on the injury list, while Finley and Ryan Loft have completed three-match suspensions to give Barton more options than he has had in months.
The challenge will be to back this performance up and ensure any future dips in form are not as long-lasting, but a result and performance like this – capped by the jubilant celebrations for Hoole's goal in front of the travelling fans – will do wonders for confidence after weeks of difficult moments and searching for answers.
But out of the pressure of the Mem after a poor run, Rovers found their poise and quality at the Kassam. They rediscovered their identity, too.
A memorable day for young guns but experience told
For all the new signings and new ideas, it was the tried, tested and trusted axis of Paul Coutts and Sam Finley that returned in midfield and played a decisive role in bringing Rovers' long wait for three points to an end.
Both have been out of form and, for various reasons including illness and suspension, out of the team of late, but they were reunited at the Kassam Stadium and they provided a strong spine and control of proceedings. Coutts is not flashy yet effective, while Finley's arsenal of clever tricks to turn away from pressure makes him press-resistant, dramatically improving Rovers' ability to keep hold of the ball.
Sinclair, too, was another in the over-30 category to have a big game, stepping up nervously to score from 12 yards and he showed his experience in creating the second goal, getting himself back onside and picking out his cross for Collins rather than snatching at the opportunity to deliver.
And Marquis was the unsung hero of the performance. He did not see a chance to score come his way, but the travelling Gasheads certainly appreciated his hard work and quality as a link-up man, playing a crucial role in both first-half goals.
Young guns Lamare Bogarde, Jarell Quansah and Lewis Gordon all put in big performances and Hoole was outstanding as a right-back in attack and defence.
The difference in defence
"Lewis Gibson, there is no coincidence that when he and Belly come back in that it settles Jarell and the young lads down around him," Barton said at full time, paying tribute to the transformative impact the Everton loanee made on Rovers' back four.
The Gas took just four points from a possible 21 in the seven games the centre-back missed with a thigh injury, but he was straight back into the groove on his return, contributing plenty in build-up play and his defensive interventions were on point.
But his communication skills were perhaps the biggest addition to the team. He was seen gesticulating and barking orders at each and every set piece, ensuring Rovers were best prepared to deal with balls launched into the box. Those moments have been a big weakness throughout the season, but they handled them well on Saturday and it can largely be attributed to the change in goal and Gibson's return.
Had he been fit for every game, Gibson would have surely had a positive impact on Rovers' points tally, but the reason he is playing for the Gas and not at a higher level is his fitness record in the past two or three seasons.
Barton will be desperate that finally, the 22-year-old's injury woes are behind him and he is available from now until the end of the campaign.
Belshaw's back as Barton's changes pay off
Barton rolled the dice and it landed on a six, making as many changes to his team for this game, and he was totally vindicated for a radical shakeup with a big win.
There were big calls in there, particularly dropping James Connolly after a challenging run for the talented defender, but the most eye-catching came between the posts as Belshaw returned after five games deputising for January signing Ellery Balcombe.
The number one had perhaps his quietest game of the season as Rovers were able to keep Oxford at arm's length throughout, but his composure was apparent when dealing with crosses – an area Balcombe has to improve after some nervous punches against Burton.
In his interview with BBC Radio Bristol before the game, Barton says he hopes Belshaw keeps his place for the rest of the season but the Gas now have the competition for the place that they crave.
Speaking about his changes after the game, Barton said: "I watched the (Burton) game back and when debriefing the game afterwards, you go through what you could have better and last time out we played their type of game. I said to the lads ‘We are footballing side and we have got to get the ball down and play, we have got players’.
"Six changes and it shows the quality of the squad we have got. We haven’t had the opportunity to do that all the time via suspension or injury.
"It’s a really good feeling to get that clean sheet. It is nice to win, obviously, but when you can do it with a solid defensive foundation to build off, it gives you real optimism of what’s to come."
Tougher tests to come
Rovers deserve huge credit for bouncing back in this fashion after such a difficult run, and you can only beat the opponent in front of you, but the obvious reality is this was a team lacking any semblance of confidence and a club in a much darker moment.
The form book suggested there were parallels between these teams ahead of kick-off, but by the end the differences were apparent. Rovers were a team in a blip, but Oxford resemble a broken club, so vociferous and widespread were the calls for a managerial change.
Rovers were brilliant at preying on the weaknesses, insecurities and anxieties on the pitch and in the stadium, but the weeks ahead will only see the challenges go up a level.
Barnsley are the next visitors to the Mem and Barton's old mate Michael Duff has the Tykes in fantastic form as they look sure to finish in the top six at the very least. The Gas believe better teams who want to force the issue suit their own style better, and they have plenty of chances to prove that point in the final 13 games.
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