‘Great barometer for the future’ - Bristol Rovers pundit delivers verdict after Burton win

Bristol Rovers pundit Keith Brookman believes that the 4-0 win over Burton Albion can help inspire confidence into them for their next League One matches.

The Gas issued the perfect response to last Saturday’s opening day defeat to Forest Green Rovers as they turned on the style.

Claiming their first away win in the third tier since December 2020, Rovers raced in to a four-goal lead at half-time.

Brewers defender Conor Shaughnessy was red carded for a foul on Aaron Collins, opening the floodgates for Joey Barton’s men to exploit.

Antony Evans opened his account at this level for the first-time after stints with Blackpool and Crewe Alexandra - opening the scoring with an accurate free-kick before James Connolly added another with a header.

Aaron Collins - last season’s top scorer - chipped in with another two goals to his tally, where he now leads the top scorers charts with a clinical brace.

Offering his opinion of the game to BBC Radio Bristol, Brookman said: “The key was probably the red card in the opening moment for Burton Albion.

“Even if that hadn’t happened if Rovers had played the way they did in that opening period, I don’t think too many teams would have been able to live with them.

“They managed the game exceptionally well in the opening 45 minutes and raced into a four-nil lead. They could have had a couple more if I am honest.

“After the break they played within themselves. They controlled the game again. Burton had their first and only goal attempt near the end of the game when James Belshaw made an excellent save. Rovers were in total control from start to finish.”

There is a midweek Carabao Cup clash for Rovers to look forward to though they are expected to ring the changes to the side that won on Saturday.

But it is also a double game week with Oxford United visiting the Memorial Stadium in an early kick-off on Saturday afternoon.

The games are coming up thick and fast as after completing two games in a week, they will make the long trip up to Barnsley next Tuesday.

A convincing win on the road at the Pirelli Stadium however has given them the confidence for what will be trickier opposition.

He said: It is difficult to gage when you are playing against ten men. Rovers have played against ten on a number of occasions and really struggled.

“Today they didn’t struggle, they took the game by the scruff of the neck, taking it to Burton and played with a high tempo.

“It’s difficult to say whether they can continue in that vain for the next games coming up. The next couple of league games are tough; home to Oxford and away to Barnsley.

“It will give them confidence going in to those games. I don’t think they need to be afraid of anyone. It’s a good barometer for what is coming up in the future.”

Full-back Lewis Gordon was thrown straight in to the deep end and given a starting berth, having been announced just 90 minutes before kick-off.

Gordon, who’s only exposure to senior level football was a substitute appearance for Brentford in the FA Cup and a loan stint at St Alban’s City, played a majority of the match.

The 21-year-old came in Trevor Clarke who has been told he is free to find a new club and delivered a respectable first performance, keeping a clean sheet before he was substituted for Harvey Saunders in the 73rd minute.

Asked by Geoff Twentyman on his opinion of how he conducted himself on his debut, Brookman said: “Calm, steady and a reliable left-back. He played in to the game and he only had a couple of training sessions with Rovers.

“He looked quite comfortable at left-back but he wasn’t tested and they were playing against ten men.

“He did what he did very well, he wasn’t stretched by any sense of the imagination. I think he could be a very good signing.”