Bristol Rovers v Colchester United verdict: Elliot Anderson gets Gas to their destination as job well done

They say one of the unwritten rules in football is not to fall in love with a loan player, but Elliot Anderson’s form in a Bristol Rovers shirt has seen them break that.

The second goal in as many games took the Gas up to the dizzying heights of seventh, their highest position this season.

His 49th-minute opener wasn’t as good as his effort over the weekend but nevertheless, it was a goal that was worthy of winning what was a tightly contested match.

This was another man-of-the-match display from a player that is deservedly earning the plaudits right now with his talent no longer a secret.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said that he was ‘slightly’ disappointed that Elliot Anderson was playing in League Two last month. But what a welcome it is that the Gas is being treated to a player that has perhaps shown he’s already above the level in the quarter of the season he’s played in.

A quick glance onto the message boards in the aftermath of the victory has a thread on whether Anderson is one of their greatest loan players.

Whilst a listener on the radio said that Anderson was one of the most exciting players to grace the Memorial Stadium since Billy Bodin.

Either way, the 19-year-old is the player needed right now, as Barton had previously spoken about being able to fill the minds of young players. The teenager has showcased that he has the ability to win a game.

It’s unsure whether any other clubs were in for Anderson but that frantic search on Deadline Day for a midfield signing has led them to striking gold.

‘Uncle’ Couttsy leads again

At the opposite end of what is a youthful squad, 33-year-old captain Paul Coutts put in yet another impressive shift.

Coutts, who has been nicknamed ‘uncle’ by his teammates, was everywhere this evening, breaking up a number of Colchester attacks, whilst also trying to get his team forward.

Whilst Anderson will deservedly get the plaudits, Coutts up until recently has been one of the unsung heroes of the side. He has gone from struggling to hold down a place in the team and being out-of-form to being the leader of this season’s revival.

The Gas take a stop on where they want to be

For the first time this season, the Gas can celebrate holding a top seven position after Sutton United fell to a defeat to Swindon.

Three points now separate themselves and the London side though the latter does possess a game in hand.

At least for now though, this is a position that Rovers can not let slip. For the last few months, there have been moments leading up to this. Optimism has been high with the supporter base hanging onto Joey Barton’s words of his belief of a play-off spot.

Now the mind set may change slightly, as before they were hunter and now they are one of the many teams that will be hunted. That’s not to say Rovers haven’t got an appetite for more. As is the nature of the division, only two points separate themselves and Newport to a play-off spot.

Northampton, who are in second-place, have a three point gap over them, so Saturday’s match has become ever more important.