After a rocky beginning, Bristol Rovers have made an impressive return to life in League One and very little has been down to chance.
For two months, Joey Barton's Gas have been very impressive, losing just one of their past 12 games in the league and they deservedly possess a place in the top half of the table at Christmas. In fact, supporters have cursed their luck more than once this season, particularly amidst a brutal run with injuries in the opening 10 games that gave their rivals a head start.
Those woes feel like a distant memory now. Still, Barton is sure to have some festive wishes as the Pirates embark on the second half of their season in a strong position, three points shy of the play-off places with the opportunity to give Gasheads another exciting run to the finish line.
Here are some of the things we think Barton will be longing for this festive season...
Scotty signs
He has not been the only contributor, but Scott Sinclair's return in October to the place where it all started for him as a boy has coincided with a fine run of form for the Gas.
When the 33-year-old sealed a short-term deal to wear the blue and white quarters again after playing twice in his teens in 2004 before being snapped up by Premier League giants Chelsea, it really was a no-lose situation for Rovers. Every account before he returned was he was a model professional and for sentimental reasons alone, there was a lot to love about the arrangement.
But there has been substance to the move, too. Sinclair has scored twice in 11 appearances in all competitions, with both of those being winning goals.
He has played better than his numbers have suggested. Circumstances have dictated that Rovers' best football has come from playing with a back three, so Sinclair has been needed as a wing-back, reducing the number of touches he has had in the opposition box.
Sinclair has been an effective and reliable player nonetheless, meeting the physical challenges of the third tier with no trouble at all despite several months without a club since the end of last season.
With his short-term contract nearing an end, negotiations over a new deal are underway and Barton would love to see him put pen to paper.
The manager has been relaxed and optimistic about the situation in his conversations with the press, but he could get few better presents this Christmas than a long-term deal for a man who has rapidly become a key player for the Gas and an important part of the dressing room.
Luck for Lewis
Other players have received more attention for their performances this season, but Lewis Gibson ranks among the most important players in Barton's squad. And that is not just because the centre-back, on loan from Everton, has played well.
As a left-footed centre-back that deals in both culture and crunch, he is gold dust and there isn't another player in that mould in Rovers' ranks.
When he has been fit and available, Gibson has been a steadying presence in Rovers' defence and he has shown great confidence and command for a 22-year-old that has missed a lot of football through injury.
Thankfully for Rovers, he has been available more often than not this season, but the five games he missed with an ankle issue across September and October were problematic for Barton, with injuries for James Connolly and James Gibbons compounding the issue.
Barton will hope for a clean bill of health for every man in his squad, but Gibson is among the most important parts of the machine and he will be very hard to replace. Here's hoping his injury woes are behind him and he is able to play a big role in the second half of the season.
McCormick finds his form
Much of the summer was spent by Rovers chasing a deal for Luke McCormick to return to the Mem, and there was a sense of delight in BS7 when the Gas sealed a deal with AFC Wimbledon to make it happen in August.
However, the midfielder's second spell with Rovers has not started as well as his first in 2020/21, when he starred on loan from Chelsea in an otherwise dismal year for the Gas that ended in relegation to League Two.
McCormick has been the first to admit he has failed to meet his own high standards so far, with his best performances coming in the EFL Trophy, where he has shown glimpses of the dynamic box-to-box player he is when he is on song.
In the league, however, the 23-year-old has not made the most of his chances in the starting XI and he has been an unused sub in three of the past five League One games.
Doubtless, the lack of a pre-season continues to affect him. Wimbledon exiled him from the building when he made his desire to leave clear in the summer, meaning he was behind schedule when he sealed his return to BS7. Any player will tell you just how hard it is to play catch-up in those circumstances.
Two strong seasons at this level for Rovers and Wimbledon accumulated 15 goals and 11 assists, which is enough evidence to suggest McCormick will have no problems in the long run, but it would be a welcome bonus for his manager if he hits his stride in the second half of the campaign. That would be as impactful as a January signing.
Bonus loan
Barton has worked more than his fair share of masterstrokes in the loan market as Rovers manager and he will hope to repeat the trick in the upcoming January transfer window.
Eleven months ago, Barton and head of football operations Eddy Jennings pulled off deals for defender James Connolly and winger Elliot Anderson, who both would play a pivotal role in Rovers' promotion from League Two.
Connolly, in particular, was an under-the-radar signing for the Gas, something Barton has not been afraid to do, with former Brentford B defender Lewis Gordon becoming a regular starter this season since signing as a free agent despite arriving without an EFL appearance to his name.
The Gas brains trust have faith in their sources of information and they are willing to take calculated risks on young players. With two loan spots available to Barton in his squad, he could well utilise that corner of the market and he will hope he can unearth some more hidden gems to play a big part for Rovers in the second half of the campaign.
Referees
Finally, this one may not be the most realistic, but a man can dream.
Barton and Rovers have not been satisfied with some of the officiating they have encountered this season and they are particularly concerned by the high amount of added time played in their games compared to the league average.
The reality of playing at League One level is the officials are inconsistent. There have been afternoons spent by the manager tearing his hair out and plotting a text to referees' boss Mike Jones, and overcoming that is all part of the challenge.
But, wherever possible, Barton will hope his team can be on the right side of the 50/50s as much as possible and howlers from the officials are kept to an absolute minimum.
SIGN UP: To receive our free Rovers newsletter, bringing you the latest from the Mem
