Bristol Rovers took a huge stride towards League Two safety with a dramatic victory over Crewe Alexandra this weekend.
In a weekend full of late goals in the fourth tier, Tommy Leigh struck twice for the Gas in the final five minutes to move Steve Evans’ side six points clear of the relegation zone.
But Evans had to make do without Riley Harbottle and Shaq Forde for another week.
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In his pre-match press conference ahead of hosting the Railwaymen, Evans appeared to drop a hint that the pair were back in training and looked to be available for selection. However, that didn’t lead to their inclusion in their matchday squad, leaving supporters a little perplexed. But with a midweek clash at Barrow to come, it makes sense that the duo weren’t rushed back into action, given Evans doesn’t want to inflict further injuries on his absent players.
It’s been a disappointing period for winter signing Harbottle, who had impressed in his six matches before picking up this injury at the start of February. The same applies to Forde, who had four goal contributions in three appearances before he, too, missed the Valentine’s Day clash with Cambridge United.
And Evans, speaking to Bristol Live, was keen to emphasise that the returning players don’t have a given right to immediately return to the side.
“They could have been in the squad. They’ve trained for two or three days now, Shaq [Forde] three, Riley [Harbottle] two. My decision that five weeks out and four weeks out didn’t earn you the right to come into a group that had beaten Grimsby, who have been winning since, so they’re a good side.
“I looked back at a big chance that Ellis [Harrison] missed at Swindon. We go 2-0, we win the game. So I was looking at that, and I just think I want to make sure that Shaq Forde and Riley Harbottle are 100 per cent for this football club when they come back. Where people can play on reputation, or people can play on ‘I’m almost fit’. Those days are gone; they don’t happen under me.”
Picture Looking Clearer At The Bottom
Rovers aren’t exactly in desperate need for those players to return, though. A mini three-game unbeaten streak has seen them defeat two play-off hopefuls, Grimsby Town and Crewe, while also taking a point in their local derby at Swindon Town. That has quickly shrugged off three successive defeats, raising spirits inside Rovers’ camp.
With defeats for Harrogate Town and Newport County, along with stalemates for Barrow and Crawley Town at the weekend, the picture at the bottom of the table is looking a lot rosier for Bristol Rovers. Victory in Cumbria tomorrow evening would go some way to rubberstamping their fourth-tier status.