Joey Barton singled out versatile Josh Grant for praise after his second-half goal helped Bristol Rovers hit back to beat Northampton.The visitors went in front through Sam Hoskins’ 39th-minute penalty following a foul by Connor Taylor on Paul Lewis.But 23-year-old Grant, a product of Chelsea’s academy, equalised after 53 minutes with a powerful far-post header and six minutes later ...Full Story »

Boss Joey Barton felt his League Two Bristol Rovers deserved their 2-2 draw at Oxford after Antony Evans’ 87th-minute penalty earned a replay.Taylor converted after late substitute Jamie Hanson fouled Aaron Collins.Matty Taylor had put the U’s in front in the 11th minute but Sam Finley levelled in first-half stoppage time.Marcus McGuane restored Oxford’s lead but the home side,...Full Story »

Joey Barton believes that the fortunes of his Bristol Rovers side are “starting to turn” after earning a 1-0 win at Harrogate.Substitute Nick Anderton scored the only goal of the game after the hour mark to seal a rare away win for the 16th-placed Pirates, who were relegated from League One last season.Having previously failed to claim an away win since last December, Rovers have now...Full Story »

Dumbarton finished with eight men and struck a stoppage-time equaliser only for Airdrieonians to snatch a dramatic 3-2 win in their cinch Scottish League One clash at Penny Cars Stadium.Rhys McCabe had given the hosts an early lead through a penalty in the eighth minute, with Ross MacLean levelling things up following a corner before half-time.Airdrieonians were awarded another spot-kick in the ...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton was angry with Premier League referee Graham Scott after his side finished their 1-1 draw at Colchester with nine men.Cian Harries, who had been booked for a foul early in the second half, was shown a second yellow card for time-wasting from a throw-in in the 87th minute and duly sent off.And Rovers substitute Trevor Clarke was also dismissed near the end for viol...Full Story »

A relieved Joey Barton insists there is plenty of hard work ahead for Bristol Rovers despite powering to a 3-0 win over Carlisle on Saturday.Antony Evans broke the deadlock before half-time with a superb turn and finish, and Sam Nicholson and Harvey Saunders gave the scoreline a handsome look with late goals to seal victory for Rovers and their under-pressure boss.The three points propelled the ...Full Story »

Joey Barton believes Bristol Rovers’ late rally to claim a first away win in almost 10 months might have saved his job after they won 2-1 at Walsall.Rovers’ winless away run looked set to be extended to 20 games since last December when Kieran Phillips steered Walsall ahead in the first half.But two Pirates loanees, Stoke defender Connor Taylor and Crystal Palace forward Sion Spence,...Full Story »

Joey Barton admitted the “clock is ticking” on his attempts to revive ailing Bristol Rovers after hearing chants of “what a load of rubbish” at the final whistle of their 3-1 defeat to Leyton Orient.First-half headers from Harry Smith and Aaron Drinan, with a sweet Theo Archibald volley sandwiched in between, had Orient in cruise control by the break at the Memorial Stadi...Full Story »

Joey Barton praised the attitude of veteran Leon Clarke after the striker marked his Bristol Rovers debut with the only goal against Crawley in League Two.The 36-year-old had been on the field for only around 90 seconds at the start of the second half when he headed home a cross from fellow debutant Antony Evans.Rovers had to defend for their lives during seven minutes of stoppage time, but mana...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton was at a loss to explain his side’s 4-1 hammering by a rampant Exeter at St James Park.Rovers found themselves 4-0 down inside 24 minutes as Matt Jay (two), Tim Dieng and Harry Kite all scored – and it could have been worse had Exeter taken more of the chances they created.The Pirates were much improved after the break, and Sam Finley curled a belter i...Full Story »

Joey Barton insists Bristol Rovers are “moving in the right direction” after ending an eight-match losing streak with a 1-0 win over Oldham.A 35th-minute header from Harvey Saunders, his first goal for the club, proved enough for a deserved three points.It was Rovers’ first home goal in well over eight hours of football at the Memorial Stadium and the first-half display, in par...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton will use the depth of his squad for the Carabao Cup first-round clash with Cheltenham.Barton has signalled his intention to involve those players who did not feature in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Mansfield, during which skipper Paul Coutts was sent off.Strikers Brett Pitman (ankle) and Aaron Collins (thigh) are unlikely to be involved and defender Trevor Clark...Full Story »

Fuming Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton criticised referee Josh Smith after his 10-man side lost 2-1 to Mansfield after a late penalty.The game was level at 1-1 when Paul Coutts was sent off for an off-the-ball incident involving Danny Johnson in the 77th minute.The Stags then won it six minutes into stoppage-time as Johnson scored from the spot after Mark Hughes had tugged Oli Hawkins.“We ...Full Story »

Dumbarton clung on to their League One place despite falling to a 1-0 defeat in their play-off decider with Edinburgh City.Jim Duffy’s Sons welcomed the League Two runners’ up west in confident mood having claimed a 3-1 lead from Monday’s first leg in the capital.Nerves began to jangle when they saw their lead trimmed back seven minutes into the second half, though, with Ouzy S...Full Story »

Ross Forbes created all of Dumbarton’s goals as the Sons took command of the Scottish League One play-off final with a 3-1 away win over Edinburgh City.Jim Duffy’s side came from behind to seal a deserved victory which was engineered by the cultured left foot of former Motherwell and Morton midfielder Forbes.The 32-year-old forced the first save with a deflected effort but the hosts ...Full Story »

Edinburgh City and Dumbarton secured their place in the Scottish League One play-off final.Josh Campbell struck a late goal for the Citizens to draw 2-2 against Elgin at Ainslie Park, which was enough to secure a 3-2 aggregate win.Following a goalless first leg, the Sons made sure of progress on their return to the C&G Systems Stadium after a goal from Jamie Wilson proved enough for a 1-0 vi...Full Story »