Joey Barton believes Bristol Rovers got a deserved point against Sutton United at Gander Green Lane on Saturday.
Antony Evans equalised from the penalty spot with five minutes remaining, cancelling out Richie Bennett's 19th-minute opener in an attritional battle in South London.
Sutton were direct and effective, but Rovers kept plugging away and found rewards late on when substitute Harry Anderson pounced on a moment of indecision in the defence to steal in ahead of goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis and drawing the foul.
Evans was nerveless from the spot, scoring his seventh goal of the season to earn the Gas a point which left them in 13th place in the League Two table, seven points adrift of the top seven.
Rovers manager Barton believes his side got what they deserved.
"Delighted with the point," Barton said. "It could be three, but they’re a good side, make no bones about it and they sit where they sit in the table on merit.
"We fancied our chances having beaten them in the FA Cup and I thought coming here today and playing as well as we did in spells and leaving with a point gives us good confidence going into the second half of the season and a tough game on Tuesday night.
"Even on the balance of play in the first half, we were unlucky. Twice rattled the crossbar, one that came through a block-tackle that flicks Aaron Collins shot onto the bar and then a free-kick.
"With the greatest respect to them, they won the Conference last year and they’ve made a fantastic start to life in League Two, nine unbeaten coming into the game today, so we knew this would be a really tough test.
"It’s a good pitch but it’s quite firm. It’s a pitch that maybe doesn’t suit free-flowing, passing football, but you have to find a different way and credit to the lads today.
"They kept pushing and kept trying to do the right things. Trying to pass the ball correctly in tough conditions with the wind and the hard pitch and we got our reward."
Rovers have made scoring late a trademark in recent weeks and Barton believes Anderson's desire to chase a lost call typified the heart and commitment of his players.
"He’s had the desire to get in there and chase a little bit of a lost cause and it’s obviously resulted in the keeper over-committing and getting us a penalty which Antony stuck away with real aplomb," Barton added.
"Big moments and big players and we’ve got a really good squad, and more importantly a really good culture building.
"There’s a really good teamship in there and that’s what gets you home, and long may it continue."
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