Joey Barton said he was "proud" of Bristol Rovers and his players as they showed "character and bravery" to draw 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
The Gas were good value for their point on Wednesday, with Josh Coburn scoring a fine equaliser on the hour to cancel out Michael Smith's header in first-half stoppage time. Rovers benefited from a fine performance from James Belshaw in goal, and he received the sponsor's man of the match award for the game, which was the club's first appearance on Sky Sports for a league game since 2017.
Rovers are now unbeaten in eight games in all competitions and occupy 14th place in League One, and manager Barton is delighted with how his group is coming together.
"It was a sucker punch conceding a goal when we did, but it shows the character of the players," he said. "We said to them at half time anything Sheff Wed did in the first half came from moments of ill-decision from us.
"When we executed and played and pressed how we wanted to, we caused them lots of problems. We would have been disappointed to go in at half time level, so to go in one down was a real sucker punch.
"But real credit to the players, they didn’t sulk, they didn’t feel sorry for themselves. They went out and attacked in the second half and I think we deservedly come out of here with at least a point.
"We’ll be disappointed when we look back based on the quality of chances, but Belly has pulled off three really good saves. There were a couple in the first half, one enforced from Gibbo close to him, but there was the tip around the post early in the game and the save he makes in the second half quite late on up to his left hand is a fantastic save.
"We all know what a great goalkeeper James is and he’s been quiet of late in terms of we have limited the opposition to very few chances, but he showed his quality and all very good goalkeepers are there when required We needed him at moments tonight and he was there for us."
With the game televised, an impressive 780 Gasheads still made the trip to South Yorkshire and Barton was delighted to reward them with a good result and a fine performance.
"It’s a brave group and we spoke before about showing courage and bravery to take the ball and try to play," he said. "Sheff Wed have got some really good players, international players, and they make it difficult for you.
"To come to their stadium with the national TV here and a lot of their fans here, it was a great atmosphere tonight. To show that bravery to play at times. Obviously, we had to mix our game up as well, but to a man they were excellent.
"I must mention the Gasheads as well. The game is on Sky and it would be easy to sit in and save money, but they have come in their numbers again and thankfully we’ve given them a goal in the second half at that end and a really positive performance.
"I’m proud of the lads tonight and proud of the football club."
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