It’s a statement that may cause a few Derby County fans to baulk, and more than likely roll a few eyes in that part of the country, but James Connolly believes Bristol Rovers weren’t that far away from winning at Pride Park.
Rovers fell to a pretty convincing 4-2 defeat on Saturday, ending their eight-game unbeaten run which had eroded the early-season anxiety that had built up throughout August and September.
However, to many it was a reminder of the gaps in resources between the Gas and a League One super club like Derby, as David McGoldrick - a player easily good enough to be operating in the Championship - plundered a first-half hat-trick.
But to Connolly, and presumably the rest of his teammates, it was a missed opportunity given how easily they laid on the four goals for the hosts with two via unforced errors, another from a set-piece and McGoldrick’s second a result of some questionable defending by Lewis Gordon and then Luca Hoole.
Some pretty significant and numerous ifs, buts and maybes, but in terms of general play Connolly, who came on as a second half substitute as he continues his recovery from a stress fracture of his back, insists the Gas were the equal of the Rams.
It’s totally subjective, of course, and certainly even those of a Rovers persuasion may find it hard to agree with the centre-back but it ultimately speaks of the confidence and self-belief surging through this team and that one misstep shouldn’t ruin all that has been achieved up to now.
“We’re not going to be naive and say we’re going to win every single game, but we go into every game wanting to win. In the second half we showed we can match them and maybe if we had got the first goal, I think, we would have gone on to win the game,” Connolly said.
“We’ve had to play some top teams: Plymouth, I thought we were unlucky not to win that game. Went to Hillsborough, that’s a tough place for anyone to go to, and I think we were the better team and if anyone deserved to get man of the match it was their keeper.
“Against Derby, we matched them second half and we’re not miles away.”
The fact Connolly is speaking again as a Rovers player is reason for celebration after two months out with his back injury which has prevented him from building on his outstanding debut campaign for the Gas.
Barton is easing him back into the first-team environment and his 34 minutes at Pride Park was his first action since he returned to training a few weeks ago. The likelihood is he’ll earn his first start since August 20 against Rochdale in the FA Cup first round this Saturday at the Mem.
The “nightmare” is over for the Scouser, however having got himself fit again he faces a challenge to cement himself back into that starting XI such has been the increasingly impressive form of Bobby Thomas and Lewis Gibson as a centre-back pairing in his absence.
As fortune would have it, Gibson’s groin injury means he’ll be out for around two weeks and with Luca Hoole doing little to convince in the middle of the back four against the Rams, a place alongside Thomas looks like Connolly’s to take, should he come through the Rochdale test.
“It’s been a nightmare,” Connolly added. “It feels like I’ve been out for years, to be honest with you. Because it was my back I haven’t been able to do much at all so I’ve just been itching to get back out there. I feel ready to kick on. When I’m called upon, I always just want to get out there.
“They’re (Gibson and Thomas) both from Everton and Burnley, respectively, so they’re good players. Hopefully I can forge a partnership with one of them or work as hard as I can to get in the team.”
The 20-year-old is in a strange position in the sense he’s one of the youngest members of Barton’s squad but such has been his presence and importance to the team, he’s also paradoxically one of the more senior figures, particularly in defence.
Alfie Kilgour, at 24, is the most senior centre-back with Lewis Gibson 22, Bobby Thomas 21 and Luca Hoole 19; however such is their closeness in age, that they’re all close friends which helps operating as a unit but also getting over mistakes.
While there is natural competition to be a starter and keep your place, there’s also a sense of collective responsibility and wanting to help your mate out; something which is pertinent following Thomas and James Gibbons’ errors at Pride Park and Hoole’s shaky performance.
Rovers now have a full week’s preparation to work on what went wrong against the Rams and look to correct it, not just for Rochdale but the rest of the League One campaign with Connolly hoping to be front and centre once again amongst his pals.
“All the lads like playing games but in training you can work on team structures and I think it’ll do us a bit of good working on some different things,” Connolly said.
“We’ve got a good group of lads, we’re all young; I’m 20, Bobby’s 21, Hooley 19, Gibbo 22 but we’ll all get each other up and help each other out. We’re all close mates and a close-knit group so we can help each other out and keep everyone’s spirits lifted.”
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