As Bristol Rovers’ home clash with Stockport County on Tuesday night edged closer to the 90-minute mark, it looked as though, not for the want of trying, that it was going to be one of many games this season where the Gas have struggled to create enough decent chances and ultimately ended it with ‘nil’ next to their name.
However, a nice turn from debutant striker Michael Reindorf in the final minute of normal time won Rovers a free-kick from around 30 yards out which, thanks to the addition of Matt Butcher last month, now generates more excitement and belief that they can be capitalised on completely.
Capitalise they did as Butcher’s wand of a left foot set the ball on a plate for the nearest man in blue-and-white quarters to get a touch and guide into the back of the net. That man was another debutant in Sil Swinkels, an unlikely goalscorer but certainly a popular one as the Thatcher’s End erupted knowing that their side had clinched what will go down as a very good point.
Although results haven’t been stellar on home turf this season, there haven’t been many visiting teams that have received real plaudits from Gasheads. Stockport are certainly up there with the best sides that have come to the Mem. Well drilled and organised, you could see why they’ve maintained their status of a winning machine into League One following last year’s promotion.
Debate amongst yourselves as to whether the Gas deserved that point or not. Realistically, it doesn’t matter. It’s a point gained on a night that once again demonstrated that progress under Inigo Calderon is being made while emphasising just how vital the Mem will be for the remainder of the campaign in Rovers’ bid to steer clear of trouble.
Here are some of the stand out talking points after Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw…
The Mem a much happier hunting ground these days
Being a goal down at home with limited time to go hasn’t been a rarity but what has been is the belief that Rovers can get themselves back into a game.
During the back-end of Matt Taylor’s time at the club, even on a couple of occasions last season, as the Gas sought a goal late on there was often a frustrating lack of directness as passes sideways and backwards were met with rumblings of discontent as well as, on the odd occasions, some boos and jeers.
In reality, there wasn’t actually that much difference to the way Rovers tried to carve themselves out an opening in the latter stages but the difference was that the spectators in the crowd believed that they could get a goal from somewhere and thus cheered and encouraged.
The ideology that the Thatcher’s End is capable of sucking the ball into the net on its own certainly came into play here, although when a ball that delicious is flung your way as a towering six-foot-something centre-back, your only real option is to head it into the goal.
Seven points from four home games under Calderon isn’t a bad return, and it should be more with the Leyton Orient performance deserving of a result. Considering that they’ve played an O’s side in the midst of a ridiculous romp up the table, Barnsley who had won four in a row going into their 3-1 defeat and Stockport who had gone on a streak of five successive victories alongside a desperately poor Peterborough, it’s a great return.
The Mem feels like a much happier hunting ground these days and Saturday’s huge clash with Burton Albion is one to look forward to as opposed to dread. It’s going to have to stay that way too as home form will have a huge say on how the remainder of the season pans out with nine of Rovers’ final 17 games set to be played in BS7.
Butcher carves out an opening again
The importance of set-pieces in this division has been stressed a ridiculous amount of times, which is why Rovers’ struggle to capitalise on them has been so frustrating.
Defending them was the issue at the start of the season but, admittedly, they did and have improved. However, you could put together a pretty substantial reel of corners and free-kicks that wouldn’t look out of place in a Sunday league.
At long last, the Gas now seem to have their answer to their struggles as Matt Butcher got his second assist for the club in as many appearances via a set-piece.
The midfielder had threatened with some decent deliveries earlier in the night with that left foot causing major issues as it did when he swung in the corner for James Wilson’s goal against Peterborough nine days earlier.
Going back to that word from prior – belief, when that free-kick was awarded late on there was a real buzz from supporters, suggesting that there was more confidence that an equaliser could come from the situation.
The midfielder had a tidy game in the middle of the park but he will be a major asset for the remainder of the campaign if he keeps swinging in dead balls like that.
Swinkels the big star on debut
It was always expected that Michael Reindorf would make his debut from the bench on Tuesday night but there was less certainty around Sil Swinkels getting on the pitch being a defender.
When the Aston Villa loanee stood up and waited on the sideline to get on the pitch, his physical presence was there for all to see and thus the Dutchman was always going to be a threat if another set-piece opportunity arose.
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Dropping into a back-three on the left-hand side, Swinkels did fine from open play without doing anything spectacular. However, he came into the game at 1-0 down with his team trying to regain control of the contest and use it to their advantage.
Scoring a debut goal is the perfect way for a new player to introduce themselves to their new fans and, although starts may remain tough to obtain immediately, the 21-year-old will be an asset for the remainder of the campaign.
A big point as Rovers maintain control
With the recent form that the likes of Burton, Shrewsbury and Crawley have discovered lately, while even Cambridge have picked up some points, and the dips in form of others above them, the relegation battle is starting to hot up and looks to be a fascinating spectacle for the neutral.
Realistically, as Inigo Calderon has stated a number of times, Rovers will be down the bottom end of the table for a while yet. However, it’s up to them how long that period extends.
Those teams in the bottom four currently may argue that they’re in the more favoured situation as pressure is weighted more on those hovering above the drop zone. However, the Gas are still very much in control of their own fate.
As we said going into this period, the next three weeks or so are going to be extremely important with matches against a number of teams also in the dogfight with a home game against Burton this weekend and trips to Northampton and Shrewsbury coming up.
Once again, results elsewhere meant that the fact Rovers got themselves a point could mean a great deal come May as Shrewsbury drew at Reading while Crawley picked up a home win over Stevenage as the Gas’ advantage over the drop zone stands at five points with a game in hand.
Meanwhile, Exeter City have certainly been dragged into danger and a run of six consecutive defeats could well see Mansfield Town enter the conversation too.
17 games is a whole lot of time but with nine of those at home and eight against teams currently in the bottom half, the Gas have full control of their situation still and that’s all you can ask for.