Joey Barton could consider upgrading at goalkeeper over the next month due to frustration at the lack of clean sheets James Belshaw has kept this season, while admitting that no player’s position at Bristol Rovers is safe heading into the January transfer window.
Barton was critical of the Gas’ defensive display in their 4-3 defeat to Exeter City on Thursday which has left his side third bottom in terms of goals conceded in League One on 41, 21 of which have been at home - the worst overall in the entire division.
The Rovers manager was particularly critical of Belshaw, claiming his No1 was in some way culpable for all four conceded at the Mem, through his positioning, decision-making or goal-kicking, even though accepting that defending is about more than just the individual.
Belshaw did make at least three fine saves over the course of the game but will be disappointed to be left flat-footed for Archie Collins’ drilled strike as Exeter went in 2-0 at half-time and then his misjudged attempt to clear his lines, leaving Sam Nombe with a straightforward opportunity for the injury-timer winner.
Belshaw was named Rovers’ Player of the Year for the 2021/22 promotion campaign, was given a new two-year contract in the summer and has started all 24 league games, but has kept just five clean sheets with a save percentage of 64.7 per cent - 19th in League One - while the Gas are conceding 1.71 goals a game against an expected goals against of 1.56.
Barton wants to add to his defence in the forthcoming window but with Rovers’ goalkeeping options after Belshaw being player/coach Anssi Jaakkola and 19-year-old Jed Ward, is also considering reinforcing that position.
“Everyone’s position is under threat,” Barton said. “Certainly, when you don’t do your job. Belly has saved us in lots of moments but, for me, you’ve got to be a lot more effective. If you’re conceding goals, you’ve got to organise the lads in front of you.
“I’ve played with keepers who, if you weren’t defending properly and putting your body on the line, you went in the dressing room at half-time or full-time and have them strung up against the wall. James is not that type of keeper but I’m not blaming any individual, I think we have to defend as a group as a unit but, ultimately, the buck has to stop somewhere.
“If there’s a puncture, you’ve got to take a tyre off. At the minute, Belly keeps goal - we’ve conceded 41 goals and if that doesn’t start to improve then naturally his position, like everybody else’s in the defence and midfield, will be under duress.”
Belshaw has undoubtedly made a huge impact since arriving at Rovers on a free transfer from Harrogate Town, not just on the pitch as he’s proven a popular character around the club and formed a strong bond with the fanbase.
Whether it be directed solely at the 32-year-old or using him to broadcast a wider message to his squad, Barton is in no mood for sentiment as he targets a promotion drive in the second half of the campaign.
“You can’t lose sight of how far this club has come in a year, but I’m intent on driving a standard forward. For me, finishing third in League Two is absolutely par for the course, I’m here to get the club into the Championship,” Barton added. “There are going to be lads in there (the dressing room) who are fans favourites etc, but they’re going to move on because if you don’t perform and produce for me…
“I want to win, and winners, you’ve got to be ruthless, it’s not about sentiment. The family community feel, I’ll level with you, it doesn’t really bother me. I’m here to win games of football and be an effective, efficient unit and at this moment in time, there are real bright sparks in our unit but also we’ve got some things we need to fix and fix them quickly if we’re going to have a successful season and get promoted.”
Belshaw was not the only familiar face from the promotion-winning squad to endure a difficult evening against Exeter as midfielder Antony Evans and defender Luca Hoole were withdrawn at half-time following the 2-0 hole Rovers found themselves in.
Centre-back James Connolly was also the last line of defence as Jamal Blackman’s big kick forward provided the assist for Nombe’s winner, just three days after the 21-year-old had endured a challenging afternoon against Wycombe Wanderers’ direct tactics and the presence of Sam Vokes in attack.
“You’re always looking to improve,” Barton said. “Belly has been fantastic but we’re in the business of getting better. You’ve heard me talk lots of times about kaizen - somebody just reaches a ceiling of what they’re capable of, they’re not capable of going any further. You’ve got to look for people who have got a lot more potential, a lot more scope, a lot more capacity.
"And I’m doing that all across the team, all the time - can we upgrade? Can we improve? And, if I don’t do that, I’ll lose my job because if you stand still in this game, you’ll regress. You get worse and eventually the hangman’s noose comes for the manager.
“I’m not resting on what we’ve done in the calendar year, what we’ve done to get promoted. It doesn’t bother me, I want to be coaching the Championship, Premier League and beyond and it annoys me we keep throwing points away at the level we are because we’re very close to being a very effective unit but you’re only as strong as your weakest link and, at this moment in time, the backline is the Keystone Cops at the minute.
“Two simple punts up the pitch at Wycombe have cost us. And the third and fourth goals we give away (against Exeter) are just not acceptable on the school playground, never mind in a professional environment. And when I talk about the players, I talk about the coaches as well - for me, everybody is on notice. If we don’t improve, and things don’t start to go in the direction I want them to go, then I’ll make changes.”
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