Many Bristol Rovers supporters likely would have been engulfed by a relieving experience of déjà vu at the weekend as another late Aaron Collins goal in front of Thatchers End saw the Gas snatch a victory against Walsall, continuing their upward trajectory.
The Gas did not make things easy for themselves, however, playing nearly an hour of the game with ten men after Luca Hoole was dismissed for two yellow cards seven minutes before half time.
But Collins was the man in the right place at the right time again. Rovers' top scorer profited from a mixup in the Saddlers' backline after excellent work from Harvey Saunders to force an error from goalkeeper Carl Rushworth allowed the former Forest Green Rovers forward to nod in the winner in the 90th minute and send the Mem into scenes of bedlam.
There was plenty going on in BS7 on Saturday and here are a few moments you may have missed...
Evans’ less subtle gesture
After launching a free-kick into the stanchion against Hartlepool, Antony Evans wheeled away in celebration and a few eagle-eyed Gasheads saw him tap the badge on his shirt.
We're the most wishful of thinkers when it comes to Evans' future at the Mem, but it was a subtle gesture and it may not have a deeper meaning.
However, there was absolutely nothing subtle about what the former Everton U23s captain did after the win over Walsall.
Following a heated exchange of words with Walsall’s Emmanuel Osadebe, which resulted in the pair needing to be separated by their teammates after the final whistle, Evans turned to the Gasheads in the East Stand and passionately thumped the badge on his chest several times.
During his first few months at Rovers, Evans’ ball-carrying ability and frankly outrageous quality for the leveller led to him nailing down a guaranteed starting place in the team as an attacking midfielder, however, he has since shown the discipline needed to play in varied midfield roles if called upon and that was exactly what he needed to do against Walsall.
His natural game may be lighting up games with magical goals and assists in blue and white quarters, but his value as a tough-tackling central midfielder is just as valuable and it hasn’t gone unnoticed in Rovers' recent winning run.
Barton’s direct message
With the press bench being near the top of the East Stand it can sometimes be difficult to gain a grasp of any instructions coming from the sidelines with the view obscured by the seats below, but Joey Barton’s message to Collins mid-way through the first half had no one misinterpreting what had been said.
When the game was 11 versus 11, Rovers were mostly in control of proceedings but had not caused many problems for the Walsall defence, something that clearly irritated Barton with Collins feeling the wrath.
Following another unchallenged ball forward, which was comfortably collected by the Saddlers' defence, Barton shouted to Collins to “Play through the f****** middle.”
And Collins certainly got the message as he hardly strayed from that central position in the second half, but he struggled for chances with Rovers a man down, but when he scored the 90th-minute winner, Collins would have quickly forgotten the frustrating 89 minutes that preceded it.
No repeat of Scunthorpe
Although wide attacking players are there to cause problems for their opposing full-back, few are spared from the demands of tracking back and helping out defensively.
Sam Nicholson, Barton said, was guilty of not doing his defensive duties effectively enough when he allowed a cross to reach the box against Scunthorpe on January 25, which led to a goal.
The Scotsman, clearly, was adamant history wouldn’t repeat itself on Saturday.
Five minutes before half time, Josh Grant had been moved to right-back after the red card and was dragged slightly out of position by a fluid move down the Walsall left which saw Reece Devine reach an advanced position and have the opportunity to cross unchallenged until Nicholson brilliantly made up the yards and managed to get a block in.
Nicholson has not produced had the goal contributions he would have liked in recent games, but his creative flair, work rate and ability to press are playing their part in Rovers' winning run.
Change of attire for the gaffer
Joey Barton’s full club tracksuit and navy-blue cap is a guaranteed sight on a matchday, but there was a significant change in his attire at the weekend.
As the Rovers boss jogged out of the tunnel at the Mem, there was a noticeable difference, with his usual blue cap being replaced by a woolly hat with the club’s crest brandished in the middle.
Earlier in the season, Barton wore a cap with green text for one game but that was a brief change and immediately he reverted back to the trusty blue one. Don't be surprised if it makes a return at Sutton United on Saturday.
Optimism can do wonders
This isn’t an individual act as such, more of a subtle observation of an entirely different afternoon to what many were experiencing a few months ago.
Following Saturday’s result, the Gas are now unbeaten in five league games, having won four of those, scoring 11 goals in the process, and it certainly feels as though things are changing in BS7.
Both on and off the pitch, there is more of a bounce around the place. From watching the players warm-up in high spirits and seeing those in the terraces reflecting those emotions.
Even when Luca Hoole was given his marching orders late in the first half, Gasheads were not hit by the anxiety they may have felt earlier in the season.
Instead, they became the 11th man to drive the players on, and a crowd in excess of 8,000 for the first time this season indicates fans are buying into this team,
Although this string of positive results has reignited the hope of many, Rovers are still below where they’ve set their ambitions for the season, but momentum is firmly on their side and as we’ve seen from the last two home games, this squad battles to the very end.
Players, fans and staff alike speak of something special is building in BS7. By no means is this the peak of the ascent, but everything indicates that the Gas are only on the way up.
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