League One rival name checks three Bristol Rovers players amidst numerous scout visits

Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley has put leapt praise on Bristol Rovers and Joey Barton for their promotion to League One.

The 43-year-old has been a spectator at the Memorial Stadium on a few occasions, most recently the win over Bradford City in early April.

He is fully aware of the job that Barton has conducted at the club having made numerous visits to watch the team during the latter stage of the campaign.

The Gas had spent most of the season outside of the top six and were below mid-table before the start of the New Year.

A sensational run of form which saw them taste defeat just three times however was what was needed to secure an unlikely return at the first time of asking from League Two.

“It was just an amazing second half of the season for Bristol Rovers,” he said whilst appearing as a pundit on the EFL on Quest.

“Credit to the board at Bristol Rovers, they could have easily sacked Joey Barton with the run of form that they had.

“They stayed strong and stayed with the continuity. I think Joey Barton has done fantastically well to take them from where they were to 16th in December to third come the end of the season.”

Cowley’s numerous visits to the Mem this season will come as a benefit to him as Pompey will come up against Rovers twice next season.

But given the uncertainty of whether they would go up or not, the former Lincoln City boss would have been scouting out any potential new signings for the summer.

Cowley previously worked with Harry Anderson during their time at Sincil Bank together, where they won the EFL Trophy and promotion to the third tier.

Anderson, who in the second part of the season became a key player in Rovers’ promotion bid, was name checked as was top scorer Aaron Collins and loan sensation Elliot Anderson.

“I’ve watched them two or three times live in recent weeks and I’ve been really impressed with them,” said Cowley.

“Elliot Anderson, Harry Anderson and Aaron Collins just to name three in their attacking line carry so much goal threat.

“They’ve got such a rhythm to their performances. They were really close last week to losing at Rochdale and they managed to turn that game around.

“For them to win 7-0, I thought it was a brilliant performance by them. In terms of their quality of play, I thought they were outstanding.”