Joey Barton believes the League Two Manager of the Month award is recognition not only for himself but for the fine performances of his team in March. Barton was picked from a shortlist that also featured Paul Simpson of Carlisle United, Salford City's Gary Bowyer and Exeter City manager Matt Taylor.
Rovers won five of their seven games in March to enhance their promotion credentials, with fifth place currently in their possession with six matches remaining. Barton is pleased to be recognised for his side's remarkable upturn in fortunes in 2022, but he insists the Gas have plenty of work left to do to achieve their aims.
“I’m delighted to win manager of the month," Barton said. "It’s a collective win for our group and testament to the hard work put in by staff and players.
“The players, in particular, have continued to improve and as we enter the championship rounds, we must capitalise on our momentum and continue to turn up and pay our dues every day if we are to get what we want from this season.”
Away wins at Crawley Town and Northampton Town helped Rovers gather huge momentum in March, with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Harrogate Town also demonstrating the improvements the Gas have made in recent times.
Ruel Sotiriou of Leyton Orient was named League Two's Player of the Month by the judging panel, which was made up of former Swindon Town and Bristol City manager Danny Wilson, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman and SkyBet trader Ivor Davies.
Wilson said: “Joey Barton’s men had a super return of points to continue a very impressive consistent run of form. Fifteen points came from their seven games, only conceding three goals, gives them a deserved place in the play-off positions in March.”
Goodman added: “They may be one of many sides embroiled in the hectic promotion battle in League Two, but few are entering the business end of the campaign with a better platform for success. Barton has his Rovers side well-drilled at present and thanks to their sturdy defence, they’ve become very hard to beat, at just the right time.”
Davies believes the Gas are starting to show why they were well-backed by punters at the start of the season. He said: "Rovers were 5/2 second-favourites for promotion before a ball was kicked, but after an indifferent first half of the season they were languishing in 17th place at the turn of the year and traded as big as 20/1 for promotion midway through December.
“Those odds have been contracting gradually over the weeks and are now back into 7/2 from 11/1 at the start of March and all credit must go to Barton and his staff – they have turned things around in 2022 and no other club has taken more points than them this year in Sky Bet League Two. After Saturday’s win over Bradford, the Gas now sit in 5th place in the table with six games left to play, and at 8/13, look likely to finish in the top seven.”
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