Joey Barton explains Luke McCormick decision as Bristol Rovers career in question

Luke McCormick spent nine minutes on the pitch before the substitute was subbed off
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Joey Barton has sent a stern warning to Luke McCormick to get 'his act together' otherwise his future could lie away from Bristol Rovers after his display against Forest Green Rovers.

The 24-year-old was brought on for Aaron Collins with ten minutes remaining, and the score 3-1 thanks to a brace from John Marquis and an effort put the Gas in front after Charlie Savage had opened the scoring for the hosts. McCormick was substituted nine minutes later however after being yellow-carded, and later conceding a penalty.

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McCormick was on a yellow card when he was adjudged dragged down Dominic Bernard in the box, which provided a slight glimmer of hope for FGR. James Belshaw spared McCormick's blushes by saving Corey O'Keeffe's penalty, but Barton had decided to make the bold decision to bring the former Chelsea youngster off and he was replaced for James Connolly.

"He’s a fortunate boy, he’s a very lucky boy James Belshaw has saved the penalty," responded Barton when asked about the decision to remove him shortly after he was brought on.

"If I was Macca this week I’d be buying Belly a nice present because he’s gone on, for some bizarre reason gets himself in an altercation and gets himself a yellow card. You’re running a tight-rope then straight away. The ball goes down the other end of the the pitch and he pulls the lad down in the box and it’s a stonewall pen.

“He’s a very fortunate boy the ref didn’t deem that a second yellow and then you get the penalty to face and you’re down to ten men. They’re fighting for their lives and it would have been the gee-up the stadium would have needed and who knows what would have happened in those final 10 minutes.”

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Barton alluded to the fact in the last two seasons, McCormick had suffered back-to-back relegations, including one during his first spell with Rovers, and later Wimbledon. Player-coach Glenn Whelan was also introduced for 19-year-old Lamare Bogarde, who put in a sublime display and Barton urged McCormick to mirror the performance of the former Stoke City midfielder.

He added: "Macca’s a player that has had two relegations, one with us and one with Wimbledon. When he goes on and he plays like that you can see why. It’s mindless decisions out there that cost the team and if you do that you won’t play in my team because we can’t have that.

"Glenn Whelan, goes on and absolutely delivers the strategy to a tee, Antony Evans the same, James Connolly the same and Ryan loft the same. We’ve got to have lads who are absolutely wired in, I get you’re disappointed you’re not starting but when you go on and play like that, it’s self evident why you’re not starting. He needs to get his head together and his act together or he won’t be at this football club much longer."

In the summer, McCormick was a priority transfer target for the club and a lot of effort was made to secure his signature on a permanent basis. Rovers had to play the waiting game with Wimbledon playing hard ball, whilst the Dons made McCormick train away from his teammates.

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His return to the Memorial Stadium was not confirmed until the end of August, and his lack of pre-season made it a difficult task to force his way into the first-team, especially when Jordan Rossiter and vice-captain Sam Finley were in the side. Despite a change in system and personnel, McCormick has failed to nail down a spot in the side with January signings Lamare Bogarde and Grant Ward preferred ahead of him.

“He’s shell-shocked, and he’s still in shell-shock as to what’s happened to him,” claimed Barton. “It’s only him who can get him out of that. I’m mindful here of not digging him out because he’s had a tough time but also he could have cost his team today and he needs to understand the ramifications of that.”

“I’ve never taken a player off of the pitch but I thought he could just wire in someone here and get sent off. He’s a very fortunate boy Belly saves the penalty and the ref didn’t deem it a second yellow. They were going to bring three big subs on and launch it. We’d have been facing the Alamo there and from a game that was done.”

McCormick was brought on for Collins to build up some pitch-time, given that Rovers have a midweek fixture against Wycombe Wanderers in midweek and rotation may be needed given a busy schedule awaits them. Today's brief outing against Forest Green ws his first outing in a month after playing 45 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Lincoln City in what was a rare start.

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Across the season, McCormick has been involved in 36match-day squads but has only started 15 of those matches, with most coming in the EFL Trophy and the FA Cup. In total, he has had 1265 minutes of action and today’s appearance can be seen as a missed opportunity given he has not made the pitch in the last four matches.

Barton added: “I was putting Macca on the pitch to get him some confidence and minutes. He’s low at the minute but he could have cost us, the thing for me is trust. He’s burning through his chances of trust for me so when that happens people leave the football club.

“I love Macca and I think he’s a great kid but if you’re getting paid to do a job and you don’t do that job, this isn’t a charity and I won’t put up with it. I made a point there of taking him off because I felt he wasn’t securing his performance. I felt he was a red card waiting to happen.”

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