Forest Green Rovers’ celebrations on the Mem pitch left more than a few Gasheads irked on Saturday, as the Gloucestershire side were able to savour promotion into League One for the first time in their history.
But for Bristol Rovers defender Nick Anderton, the scene of the jubilant away support packed inside the penalty area in front of the South Stand, and the subsequent party that unfolded in the opposition dressing room in the bowels of the stadium after full-time, can prove to be much more than an irritating image for the men in blue and white quarters.
With two games of the League Two regular season remaining - Saturday’s trip to 18th-placed Rochdale and then the visit of relegated Scunthorpe on the final day of the season - Rovers have the opportunity to close the campaign out with a six-point flourish.
In what appears a four-way battle for the final automatic promotion spot between the Gas, Northampton, Port Vale and Mansfield Town, all Rovers can do is take maximum points from these remaining fixtures and hope that 80 points is enough to take them over the line.
Last season, Bolton finished third with 79, the same total that saw MK Dons promoted in the final promotion spot in 2018/19. But in the preceding five campaigns, Wycombe, Doncaster, Rovers themselves, Bury and Rochdale all exceeded 80 points.
“Seeing them celebrating with their fans has definitely given us a leg up to go into the final two games, if that’s what’s needed, or however many games left and just go out there and play the best we can be and hopefully get the job done,” Anderton said.
“The gaffer has said for the last couple of months there are always going to be twists and turns. It looks like it’s going to go down to the wire.
“With our squad and the support we have behind us, home and away, we’re definitely going into these last two games full of confidence and we’ve got to give it our all.
“We just have to worry about ourselves; prepare like we have done all season. Go to Rochdale and try our hardest to get the three points and then, the last game of the season at the Mem.
“This season has been such a journey for everybody. Obviously, we were disappointed that we didn’t get the three points (against Forest Green) but from where we have come from, especially since January - I don’t think any Gasheads or yourselves would have thought, with two games left, we’d have a chance of finishing inside the top three.
“So, we won’t get too down about it, prepare properly, use the scenes opposite our dressing room of them celebrating as motivation going into the final two, or however many games there could possibly be.”
As mentioned, these two games can be very much categorised as “winnable”, although that’s a classification that’s been apparent for most of Rovers’ opposition since the turn of the year with the 0-0 draw against Forest Green only the third occasion they’ve not taken three points from a game in north Bristol in 2022.
Having played the now promoted Forest Green plus challengers Salford City and Port Vale in their last three matches, Saturday’s journey to Lancashire against Rochdale should be a less intense occasion for Joey Barton’s side.
Dale are safe from relegation, have been occupying lower mid-table for much of the campaign, were beaten 4-2 by Rovers in December and since then have seen star performers Jake Beesley and Aaron Morley depart.
But despite their status in League Two secured for another campaign, Dale have still won three of their last four games at Spotland, drawing the other, and complacency will be as much an enemy for Rovers this weekend as any threats Stockdale’s side might pose.
“In football, you see it quite a lot, those teams that don’t have anything to play for, sometimes they go out there with no pressure whatsoever,” Anderton added. “They can be the harder games to play than the teams going for the top of the table.
“We played Rochdale at home and even though we won 4-2, they play some good football and have some good footballers, so we have to be prepared. We’re not going to be complacent whatsoever, and we’ll go up there with a great following to try and get those three points.”
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