Chris Martin was delighted after Bristol Rovers’ ‘very enjoyable’ victory over Bolton Wanders in Sky Bet League One on Tuesday night.
The striker was heavily involved in the win over the Trotters, converting from the penalty spot inside six minutes before calmly rolling in the Gas’ second after the break. However, his goals were cancelled out by the hosts, with Aaron Morley crashing in the first before John McAtee levelled again with 20 minutes left to play.
Rovers kept pushing and found a late winner through Connor Taylor, who crashed in a close-range header to help the hosts to their second successive win at The Memorial Stadium.
Reflecting on the five-goal thriller, Martin was delighted with the victory and stated the reaction at the end showed what the result meant to everyone.
“It was enjoyable, very enjoyable,” he said. “I think it was a tough game, but we’re just absolutely delighted that Connor managed to get on the end of that one at the end there, and I think the reaction from us and also the fans showed you what it meant to everybody.”
Calmly slotting in his spot-kick in the opening exchanges of the match, Martin’s second goal was much more spectacular. Rovers’ raced forward quickly on the counter after Kofi Shaw won possession in his own half before playing the ball down the left to Ruel Sotiriou. The forward sprinted down the wing before curling a wonderful cross towards Martin, who converted clinically.
Analysing his second strike, Martin joked that he was not sure if he was going to make it into the box in time before praising Sotiriou’s superb pass.
“To be honest, I just tried to move my legs as quickly as they would go,” said Martin. “I had seen Ruel breaking away and thought ‘I’m not sure if I’m going to make it with these old legs. I need to try and get up there.’ But when you sniff a goal, you’ve got that little extra bit inside you, and I think the ball from Ruel was really, really good. It just curled away from them a little bit, straight into my path and onto my run. It matched it up perfectly, and I was able to find the corner. That was good. It was disappointing that we conceded again, another equaliser.
“Watching from the bench is horrible because you want to be there, and you want to help the lads, but I was thinking at the time that they were in the ascendancy a little bit. We still looked very, very dangerous every time we went forward. I thought that was the case throughout the night, to be honest. I think it was a tough game, but it definitely looked like we were capable of scoring goals, and it was just great to see Connor nod it in at the back stick.”
Sotiriou has been in excellent form under Iñigo Calderón and has scored four goals at The Mem under the Spaniard, but the Cyprus international has so much more to his game. Playing up front alongside Martin, the pair have started to build a real connection.
The pair combined against Rotherham United, with Martin assisting Sotiriou's opener before the roles reversed against the Trotters. Martin praised the impact of Sotiriou, insisting he has been one of Rovers’ best players in recent weeks.
“I think he’s been great,” said the forward. “The last few weeks, I think Ruel has been our standout player or one of if not. I think it’s been a real team effort, but I think he’s really shone over the last few weeks. I think that position suits him playing off somebody, being in and around it. I think he’s very busy and works extremely hard. I think he’s caused every single team problems with his running, and he’s direct.
“He’s underrated with his back-to-goal and backing in as well. I think he’s very good at it for his size. I think he gets stuck in very, very well. It was nice to play with him, and I thought we caused them some problems today.”
The Mem has proven to be a formidable place for teams to come in recent weeks. After a disappointing defeat against Rotherham, Rovers collected back-to-back triumphs over promotion hopefuls Huddersfield Town and Bolton to stretch the gap between themselves and the relegation zone to nine points.
Martin labelled the team's togetherness as ‘massive’ and said the side have come together at a crucial time in the campaign.
“Especially this week with the seven points, that’s massive,” he said. “It’s obviously cliche, and everyone knows what it’s going to take, but I think the effort from everybody, both the lads that are starting and the lads that are back at the training ground and not involved. I think with all the staff, it’s been a real team effort from everybody, and I think we’ve shown passion and togetherness at a crucial time.
“I think we’ve answered some of those critics. The job is still not done, so rest up, and we have to go again. There are some tired bodies out there and some knocks and some scraps. So, it’s going to take absolutely everybody, but if we continue that same attitude and that same fight, togetherness and spirit that we’ve had over the last few games, then we’ll be just fine.”
There should be no surprise that Rovers have been in fine form at The Mem due to the brilliant backing from the Gasheads, who have played a role in the Pirates collecting five home wins under Calderón. Martin admitted the fans have been ‘excellent’ and hopes they can see the work the team are putting in.
“I think it’s been massive,” said the striker. “The fans have been excellent and have really got behind us. I think they have fed off what we’ve done on the pitch, and I think they’ve fed off what they’ve given us at times when we’ve needed it as well. It’s been really good, and I think if you want to have success, if you want to win games, I think you need that connection with your fans and hopefully they feel it.
“Hopefully, they see the work that we’re putting in, the group, the staff and the players with what we’ve shown them on the pitch. That’s reciprocated with what’s going on in the stands, and I think this has been a really special time over the last few weeks. I’m hoping that it’s just the very beginning of a really good run of form and something we can build on.”
The 35-year-old has had a sensational career and recently surpassed 700 career appearances. He has represented 11 clubs and appeared 17 times for Scotland, with Martin hoping to reflect on his achivments at the end of the campaign with all the focus on the upcoming fixture against Lincoln City.
“It’s hard to put into words, to be honest,” he stated. “I think whilst you’re still in the game, the concentration and the focus is on the next game, who have we got and what’s happening. It’s the team that’s coming first. I think these are the sort of things that probably, when it’s all said and done, hopefully not too soon for me, but when things are all said and done, you appreciate that a little bit more. But I think to mark it, I’m very happy for myself to the club for presenting me with the shirt before the game today.
“It is a big milestone. Looking back as a kid, when I was coming through trying to become a footballer, your dream is to play one game, ten games, or 20 games. To make it to 700 is pretty cool. I’ll enjoy that tonight or the last couple of weeks since it’s happened and then concentrate on the next game and reflect at the end of the season as a little bit.”
