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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Sam Frost

Manchester United icon, friends reunited, blast from the past and Bristol Rovers moments missed

Two wins to push Bristol Rovers through the 50-point barrier made it quite the Easter weekend for Joey Barton and his players.

After edging past Charlton Athletic with a 1-0 underpinned by perhaps their most assured defensive performance of the season, the Gas headed north to Fleetwood Town on Monday and returned with three more points in the bag, almost certainly cementing their place in League One for next season.

It was a day of firsts as Lewis Gibson equalised in a 2-1 win with his first senior goal, coincidentally coming against one of his former club, before January signing Grant Ward struck the winner; his first goal for the Gas and his first for 863 days after the end of his time at Blackpool was marred by injury.

It was an enjoyable bank holiday away day for the Gasheads who made the journey to the Fylde Coast, and here are some of the moments you might have missed...

Friends reunited

It is no secret that there are plenty of connections between Rovers and Fleetwood since Barton took charge at the Mem in 2021, with the manager bringing staff and players with him from Highbury Stadium.

So as the rain poured 90 minutes before kick-off, it was an opportunity for old friends and colleagues to catch up.

Gas first-team coach Andy Mangan, who also played for Fleetwood, shared a hug with his former teammate Youl Mawene. The former Preston North End defender is the Cods' head of sport science these days.

Barton, too, was seen speaking to many of his old colleagues from his three years as Fleetwood manager, heading onto the home side's half of the pitch when he came out to observe the warm-up.

Gas players Paul Coutts and Glenn Whelan were not in the squad but still made the trip, of course, and they were also involved in the pre-match reunion by the entrance to the tunnel.

Whelan also crossed paths with one of his teammates from his Stoke City and Republic of Ireland days. He chewed the fat with former Potters striker Jon Walters, who is Fleetwood's director of football.

Famous face in the stands

The row of press seating in the main stand at Highbury Stadium is separated from the directors' area by just a small glass panel.

Among the travelling contingent were Rovers' head of football operations Eddy Jennings and non-executive director Chris Gibson, but there was also a famous face just a few seats along.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes was in attendance, posing for pictures with many people young and old before observing a well-fought win for the Gas.

The 11-time Premier League winner, who made more than 700 appearances for United, is a co-owner of League Two side Salford City with former teammates David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Gary and Phil Neville.

Scholes has taken on part of the recruitment operation at Salford, so perhaps this was a scouting mission ahead of next season?

A blast from the past

Fleetwood's Daniel Batty had the misfortune of being a substitute who himself was taken off in Monday's defeat, having come on early doors for the injured Harvey Macadam.

With Scott Brown's side chasing the game in the closing stages, the 25-year-old was sacrificed for an extra attacker Junior Quitirna for the final 10 minutes.

When his number was raised by the fourth official with the Cods trailing 2-1, the former Hull City player quickly made his way off the park, but the PA announcer prompted chuckles in the stands when he referred to him as David Batty, the former England and Leeds United midfielder.

For those wondering, Daniel's father is called David, but not that one. He is no relation to the ex-Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United stalwart, who made 42 appearances for his country.

James Belshaw of Bristol Rovers. (Robbie Stephenson/JMP)

Relaying the message

Aside from scooping the ball out of the net with the only effort on-target he faced – a close-range header from Jayden Stockley that he could do nothing to prevent – it was a relatively quiet afternoon for James Belshaw.

It was the theme of the Easter weekend for the Gas goalkeeper, who did not make a save in the 1-0 Good Friday win over Charlton, either.

During the game, his biggest concern was not so much the shots and crosses coming his way but the antics in the home end behind the goal in the second half.

It was not noticed during the game, but a vlog filmed by YouTuber FusionJosh showed the repeated attempts from the Cod Army to steal Belshaw's towel, which was hanging in the back of the net.

Children hopped over the hoardings during the game to throw the rag back into the terrace, and even on one occasion, a steward helped get the towel from the pitch to the home supporters.

A bit of light-hearted fun in the end, although entering the field of play is not a good idea, but Belshaw wouldn't care come full time.

With six points accrued in the space of four days, it was a great weekend for the Gas, but what of his beloved Notts County, who were playing Wrexham in a promotion duel dubbed the biggest non-league game ever played?

Well, after saluting the travelling fans, Gas goalkeeping coach Anssi Jaakkola showed his phone to Belshaw as they made their way off the pitch. Something to do with events at The Racecourse Ground? Highly likely.

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