Joey Barton revealed Bristol Rovers' players enjoyed a day out at the Cheltenham Festival ahead of their victory over promotion rivals Northampton Town on Saturday.
Much of Rovers' squad headed to the races on Wednesday, with Barton "trusting" them to deliver at Sixfields in return, and the manager was vindicated with the Gas delivering a spirited shift to win 1-0 and climb to fourth in League Two as their season reaches new peaks.
Harry Anderson scored the game's only goal after just 38 seconds, sliding the ball beneath goalkeeper Liam Roberts after profiting from Jon Guthrie's horribly misjudged back-pass. The Gas did face pressure from the Cobblers, who started the day in second place, with Guthrie and Mitch Pinnock hitting the crossbar either side of half time.
But Rovers stood firm, managing the closing stages expertly to take three points off a direct rival in the promotion race and move level on points with Northampton.
"A big week for us," Barton reflected. "To win four games on the spin in this division is a big achievement. To win three games in the week we’ve had when there’s been a lot of emotion.
"The boys went to Cheltenham. They had a day at the races. We trusted them and then they came and put on that kind of performance. A real tip of the cap for what a group of men, what a group of young men, what a really good team ethic and spirit we’ve got building here.
"You're going to be tested when you come here. Northampton are a good side. They ride where they do in the division because they’re very effective at what they do and we had to stand up to that challenge today. I thought to a man we were outstanding."
Barton was not impressed by Northampton's direct approach, but he was delighted by the way his players coped with that test.
"Before the game you could see they hadn’t cut the pitch," he continued. "We were warming up on it and you could see it was lively. They didn’t water the pitch either. A major part of their arsenal is Pinnock’s long throw and the set pieces and we had to defend them properly.
"There are many, many ways to play football. If I’m honest, would I pay to come and watch them? No, I wouldn’t. They’re awful to watch. A glorified rugby team. They’re not pretty on the eye, but they’re effective and they could get promoted.
"You don’t get any points for stylistic creativity in this division. You have to grind out results. Jon’s got them organised, they’ve picked up loads of points. That’s the first time we’ve kind of gone above them in the table.
"You have to find many different ways of winning League Two football and as you’ve seen our lads have got the bit between their teeth and have real maturity way beyond their years."
With two games and the manager standing trial at Wimbledon Crown Court, Barton believes his players have overcome a crucial week in their season, indicating the strength of his squad.
"They popped across (to Cheltenham) after the Tuesday game on Wednesday," he added. "They were all there as a group. They respected it. They turned up. Thursday, they were maybe not 100 per cent (in training) but the team spirit was a lot more than 100 per cent.
"Sometimes being an ex-player and knowing the week we were in – Steve Black’s funeral on Wednesday, obviously, I was in court Friday and then sandwiching those was a game Tuesday and a massive game Saturday – as a group, we spoke about how big of a week this would be for us with everything connected to it and all the noise on the outside.
"So to get through the week with nine points and no goals conceded is a really, really good sign of where this group is at. We’ve got a long way to go. Eight cup finals. We’re right in the race and you’d be a fool to bet against us."
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