Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton was in the stands at The New Lawn on Tuesday night on what was a big night in the League Two promotion race.
Bristol Live understands Barton and first-team coach Andy Mangan were in attendance to watch league leaders Forest Green Rovers battle to victory over promotion hopefuls Mansfield Town in Nailsworth – a result that would have pleased the Gas boss. Swindon Town boss Ben Garner, formerly in charge of the Pirates, was also in attendance.
The Gas host Forest Green at the Mem on April 23, while Mansfield are a direct rival as a handful of clubs fight for a place in the top three and jockey for position in the play-off places. Barton doubtless learned plenty on his fact-finding mission, with both sides' strengths and weaknesses on show in a highly competitive game with the stakes high.
