It probably doesn’t need reinforcing, because his performances on the pitch tell as much of the story as anything, but John Marquis’ selflessness was in further evidence on the touchline at New Lawn as he spoke after his match-winning brace at Forest Green Rovers.
Marquis’ goals secured the three points and were just reward for the work he’s put in on the field since returning to the starting XI last month, which has gone unnoticed on the scoreboard but been absolutely vital in securing Rovers points.
However, the 30-year-old - while joking that he didn’t realise he had the burst of pace that led to his first goal in him until it had actually happened - wanted to play down his own individual impact, speak up that of various teammates and insist that despite being the subject of the post-match headlines, ultimately he’d been better in previous weeks.
“I’m just happy to be out there starting and playing,” Marquis said. “I scored in my first game back (against Burton), which was bittersweet because it was in defeat, but it’s nice to get the confidence back and then two games of playing well without maybe getting the rewards and the headlines, and then I don’t think I’ve played as well as I have but then you score two goals. Everyone will be talking how well I’ve played but, really, I think I played better in the previous two games.
“There were some really good performances - Josh Coburn, Lamare Bogarde - he just keeps stepping up in the middle of the pitch - Grant Ward, both of them were really good, and the back four/back five and obviously Belly saves a penalty, Scotty scoring - everyone played a massive part. It’s a group effort and always has been, whether you’re starting or if you’re on the bench, you need to be ready and prepared to make an impact and that’s something we’re trying to drive the standards for.”
Those are the sort of words that will be music to the ears of Joey Barton as evidence of the collective culture he constantly tries to breed and then enhance within his squad whereby everyone works for each other; there are individuals, of course, but everyone has to be a part of one functioning whole.
Marquis has embodied that quite profoundly over the last few weeks as he’s run relentlessly, bumped and battered his way into defenders, taken the shots and pressed relentlessly. Doing so having been patiently waiting his chance throughout much of the autumn and winter as Coburn and Aaron Collins had been starting and starring as a pair.
Given the former Portsmouth striker was, beyond just word association, a marquee summer arrival due to his reputation and body of work he's accumulated at this level, his ego may have been wounded. But he’s just got on with the job at hand, putting in the hours at The Quarters and waited for his opportunity, which has been very definitely grabbed with both hands.
If anything it was fitting his first goal was the product of someone else's work off the ball as Coburn pressed on halfway, won the ball back and then Collins was able to release Marquis to finish with some style.
His example, which Barton has been keen to emphasise in the media over the last two weeks - and on Saturday referenced Marquis with regards Luke McCormick’s struggles - is of huge credit to the striker. But he insists it’s as much to do with the atmosphere within the squad, than take the praise himself as some kind of leading light.
“You could say so, but it comes from the environment that we work in,” Marquis said, when asked if he’s taken the lead for other players to follow.
“We know there are standards that we set ourselves and we’re not at that level where we have the luxury of somebody who can’t put in the effort and then get the ball, take it past five players and stick it in the top corner. “What we do have is a group of men who are really honest and want to do well for each other and try their hardest.
“Josh didn’t get a goal, didn’t really get an opportunity to score but his performance, bringing other players into the game, it’s really helped the team and it’s a bit similar to my last couple of performances where you feel like you’ve done a lot of work without getting a chance to score but his time will come and he’s had a fantastic season.
“You just want to be better than you were yesterday, every single day, and that’s been my attitude; you come into work, there’s never been any sulking or disappointment.
“You’ve got to be realistic in a team sport. If you wanted to play an individual sport there are plenty you could have played but you’re in a team sport, you have got to realise other people will go through a good spell and the team will do well, picking up results, so you have to respect that. Aaron, Josh, Lofty, myself now - everyone has had their moments this season where they’ve stepped up and made a real big impact. I just had to stay patient.
“We went through a little bit of a bad spell where we weren’t picking up results or winning games and the results dried up a little bit, that kind of coincided with me getting back in the team. The whole time I just worked hard and was ready for the opportunity when it came.”
Marquis’ match-winning turns and his attitude on the field provides the perfect ingredients for him to develop a real bond with Gasheads, who have always appreciated a work horse.
It’s reward for his efforts and also a realisation of something he struggled to create throughout his increasingly unhappy time at Portsmouth where his price-tag weighed heavy as he bore the brunt of fan frustration around the south coast side’s inability to mount consistent promotion challenges.
Having built that relationship in Bristol, it’s not something he wants to let go as he looks to help secure a strong finish to the 2022/23 campaign, with Rovers seven points shy of their target which should not only guarantee League One football for next season but also provide a platform for an entertaining conclusion to the current campaign.
“They always travel in their numbers, always good support at home and it’s just nice to have a full side all supporting us and they can really help us through the season - as they have done - and I’m glad they’re really taken to me,” Marquis said. “And I’ll try and continue putting in good performances until the end of the season and for the rest of my time here. I’m just looking forward to going out there Tuesday night in front of our home supporters where we want to keep improving.
“We want to finish really strongly. Our aim is - can we get to 52 points as soon as possible. We’re getting there but we’re not there yet. We still have plenty of work to do and with such a young squad, bar a few of us, we’ll be really able to take the shackles off some of them and let them play really freely, without any pressure or looking over their shoulder.
“It’s been our first year back in League One and you look at Forest Green, for example, who came up last year as champions and find themselves rock bottom - it’s not an easy league and a lot of the lads who are getting their experience in League One have acquitted themselves really well and we just want to let the shackles off them, and let them enjoy the back-end of the season.”
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