Bristol Rovers may be considered outsiders as the League One play-off race begins to take shape but in Joey Barton’s eyes the Gas have a number of fundamental advantages over their more illustrious and better-resourced rivals.
Rovers lie ninth, three points outside the top six, with a visit to seventh-placed Wycombe Wanderers on Boxing Day presenting a tough challenge but another opportunity to lay down a marker as to where the Gas stand in the divisional hierarchy.
Just one defeat in the league since October 1 has catapulted them up the standings and, yet again, reinforced Barton’s pre-season belief - which, admittedly, was briefly corrected after a difficult start - that Rovers can be in promotion consideration this term.
