League Two: Team of the season so far with one Bristol Rovers player featured

With half the season gone Bristol Rovers aren’t matching the expectations set before a ball was kicked.

Promotion was expected in Joey Barton’s first full season but so far, the Gas are below mid-table, seven points off of the playoffs and ten off the automatics. So far, Rovers have won seven, drawn five and lost nine, picking up 26 points which has them in 17th.

There needs to be some context however as this is almost a new look squad and some players have adapted to life at the Memorial Stadium better than others with hopefully an improvement to come in the second part of the year.

One player though has shone already and his individual brilliance has earned him a spot in the League Two Team of the Half Season as rated by WhoScored.com.

Here we take a look at what the stats are saying on what the best performing team is right now.

Antony Evans is the sole representative from Rovers in what is a somewhat impressive team.

Evans, who has at times played as an emergency striker, is ranked as the best performing player in Joey Barton’s side this season.

He has so far six assists and three goals in the league this season, his best return so far in senior football.

It is why many fans of Rovers have called for the club to renew his contract, having only signed a one-year deal back in August.

Amongst Evans in the team is a familiar name to Bristol City fans but also perhaps the Blue side of the city.

Joe Wollacott of Swindon Town is ranked as the best goalkeeper in the league with a rating of 6.9.

The 25 year-old has finally found a club to settle at following nine loan spells away from Ashton Gate, earning international recognition.

In the 18 league games that he’s played this season, he has kept four clean sheets and conceded 22, one of the least amount conceded in the division. It’s this form which has earned him a call-up to the Ghanian national team.

Wollacott is a Bristolian and despite turning out for the red half of the city, he grew up in the blue with his family all ardent Gas supporters.

It may have been one that got away for Joey Barton but there can be no complaints about James Belshaw’s performances this season.

In defence, no Rovers players feature but there are two representatives from Northampton with right-back Aaron McGowan and Jon Guthrie included. Well-remembered fans may turn their attention back to November when Guthrie was at fault for Antony Evans’ winner.

Elsewhere in the flat back four is Carl Piergianni, who plays for Oldham Athletic. The club are second from bottom this season but WhoScored seem to be impressed by him.

Completing the defence is former Bristol City loanee Stephen McLaughlin who is placed at right-back following his exploits with Mansfieid Town.

Forest Green make up most of the team with Kane Wilson, Ebou Adams and Nicky Cadden all in the midfield accommodating Evans.

Interestingly, despite being the top three scorers in the division, Dominic Telford, Jamille Matt and Matt Stevens, all of whom have 40 goals between them are not ranked the best strikers.

Instead, Harrogate’s Luke Armstrong and Harry Smith, who will line up against the Gas on New Years Day, are the chosen front pairing.

Armstrong has nine goals and two assists for Harrogate this season whilst Smith has a return of 11 goals and two assists.

League Two Team of the Half-Season as ranked by WhoScored.com

GK: Joe Wollacott (Swindon Town) - 6.9

RB: Aaron McGowan (Northampton Town) - 7.1

CB: Jon Guthrie (Northampton Town) - 7.5

CB: Carl Piergianni (Oldham Athletic) - 7.4

LB: Stephen McLaughlin (Mansfield Town) - 7.1

RM: Kane Wilson (Forest Green Rovers) - 7.5

CM: Antony Evans (Bristol Rovers) - 7.3

CM: Ebou Adams (Forest Green Rovers) - 7.2

LM: Nicky Cadden (Forest Green Rovers) - 7.3

ST: Harry Smith (Leyton Orient) - 7.8

ST: Luke Armstrong (Harrogate) - 7.5