Joey Barton isn’t paying too much attention to where Bristol Rovers are in the League One standings given how early it is in the season and the number of first-team players he’s been without for much of the opening nine games of the campaign.
Rovers’ humbling 6-3 loss at the hands of Lincoln City on Saturday sent them falling into 21st in the table, following a run of six games without a win, and the Gas are just four points ahead of bottom side Burton Albion.
But equally Rovers are four behind a clutch of teams sitting in mid-table and with 37 games remaining, the manager is confident much can and hopefully will change and too much can be read into where they’re positioned, ignoring some of the context as to how they ended up there.
Barton has had to constantly change his defence over the opening nine games, due to injury and suspension, as well as the team’s overall shape as he and his staff are yet to field what they believe constitutes their “best XI”.
After talking up Rovers’ promotion chances at the start of the summer, it was noteworthy that last week Barton admitted staying in the division could be viewed as a success as they are a promoted team with an inferior playing budget and resources to many in League One.
This is also the second-straight season under Barton where Rovers have made an underwhelming start as after nine games in 2021/22 - when they Gas were among the early promotion favours - they had just 10 points, two fewer than they do now, only to hit their straps at the start of the year.
“If we were top of the table at this moment, you’d be happy and you’d be buoyed but you wouldn’t be thinking you’re going to get promoted,” Barton said. “Similarly if you’re at the bottom of the table. You’re always looking where that is because you don’t want to be near it, and if we’re there after 29 or 39 games but, again, I’m looking going, I know I’m going to get cards in my hand that is going to give us a lot stronger hand going forward.
“I know I’ve got a young group. The viable options I have for me understand that we’re nine games in, we’re a newly-promoted team; confidence could be sapped by results or position in the table but most football players now are smart. I think our boys are fully aware of how short we are at the moment and how many good players we’ve got to come back to the group.
“We’ve just got to make sure we start taking points off the board as soon as we can. It’s never nice not winning games of football. You can lose 9-0, you feel like you’ve lost four points because you also lose the psychological factor but we’ve lost 6-3, and we’re down, and look there are lads who are not happy.
"But weirdly I’m buoyed by what I’ve seen offensively and I know once we get those reinforcements we’ll have absolutely no problem in the division.
“We’ve signed another really good centre-back in Bobby Thomas. Everyone knows how good James Connolly is, and Lewis Gibson, if and when we can get him on the pitch and keep him on the pitch, is above the level.”
As for some of the returning cavalry, Barton will definitely have two back for next Saturday’s home game against Accrington Stanley, which is taking on an increasingly air of significance given Rovers’ league position, the lost momentum from their end to last season and slight elements of discontent creeping into the fanbase.
Midfielder Jordan Rossiter and centre-back Bobby Thomas will be available following their suspensions, boosting his options in those areas, while the manager is optimistic that Everton loanee Lewis Gibson could also be in contention after missing the last three games with a minor calf tear.
Meanwhile, Josh Grant has made just one substitute appearance this term due to knee trouble but could resume training. And although summer signing James Gibbons isn’t expected back until November, the versatile defender will be working at The Quarters as he continues his recovery from a serious foot injury.
“I know what I’m seeing with this group,” Barton added. “The group we’ve recruited, once we get those players back on the pitch… and they’re coming: Rossiter and Thomas will be back next week, Lewis Gibson will be on the grass next week, we’re hoping to get Josh Grant on the grass next week, Gibbo is back running with his boots next week. So they’re coming.”
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