Chris Martin stated Bristol Rovers displayed ‘good character’ in their 3-1 victory over Burton Albion in Sky Bet League One.
The Gas were searching for their third win in four outings at The Memorial Stadium in the third tier, with Martin’s first-half header giving the Gas the lead until Fabio Tavares netted a late leveller.
Momentum could have swung in favour of the Brewers. However, after a quiet second half from the Pirates, Iñigo Calderón’s men responded excellently to the setback. Luke Thomas gave the Gas the advantage before Isaac Hutchinson completed the triumph in stoppage time.
Martin said he felt ‘relief’ after the victory and praised his side for getting through a difficult period before coming away with all three points.
“I think there’s a bit of relief,” he said. “I think by the end of it, after how the game went obviously, they got back into it late on, which didn’t feel the best at the time. But I thought we pulled it out the hat at the end and showed good character to come back and win the game after conceding so late on.”
He later added: “The period leading up to their goal, I’m going to be honest, on the pitch it did feel like it was coming. It felt like they were putting us under more and more pressure. We weren't able to play out. I think we gave the ball away a little bit too easily, and we were sloppy in possession at times. Credit to them. They are obviously fighting and scrapping and for sure upped their game and their intensity in that second half.
“They did make it difficult for us. It felt like a little bit of a sucker punch when the goal went in, but from then on, the reaction and the aggression that we showed and the intensity, the running, I think it showed that we were bang up for the fight today. I’m delighted that we were able to come away with the three points.”
Burton are second from bottom after collecting 26 games from 31 matches this term, but the table does not reflect the strong form they had been in. The Brewers have been excellent under Gary Bowyer recently and were unbeaten in their previous six outings, earning impressive wins over Wigan Athletic, Rotherham United and Reading.
Martin knew the game against the Brewers would not be easy and insisted the Gas played some of their best football in the first half.
“The manager spoke to us about it before and said in the form table, I think they are in the top six in the last month or so,” said Martin. “I haven’t looked myself, but that’s what we were told today. We knew it was going to be a tough game; it wasn’t going to be easy, but I think we’ve been good at home with the fans backing us, and I think we started very, very well.
“The first half of that game is some of the best football that we’ve played. I would have to watch it back, but definitely some great moments from us in the first half. The second half didn’t quite follow the same pattern. I think they were a bit more aggressive. I think that’s part of the evolution of this team, and obviously, with the manager and how he wants to play is overcoming those sorts of things.”
Martin netted his third goal of the season to break the deadlock on Saturday afternoon. The former Derby County striker latched onto Lino Sousa’s cross from the left and planted his downward header past Max Crocombe before registering two assists in the second half to complete a sensational display up front, admitting he was delighted to get involved in the goals.
“It feels brilliant,” he said. “Especially the first half, it just allows you to grow into the rest of the game, but today I just felt really involved. I felt like there was opportunities out there for me. I think we were playing some good stuff, getting the ball wide, and I think we played through the third quite well, especially in the first half. Obviously, late on, we had quite a few opportunities on the break as they were trying to win the game.
“You just want to contribute as a striker. You want to contribute with goals and assists, which I was very happy to do and very disappointed when they scored because it feels like your goal is a little bit wasted. You want to be able to put points on the board with your goals. So, that was nice that I could help contribute to the other two goals as well. All in all, I think it was a very positive day for us.”
Rovers have collected ten points and scored ten goals from their last four outings at The Memorial Stadium, helping them push up the table and seven points clear of the relegation zone. Three consecutive games at home have helped the Gas build some momentum, with Martin emphasising the importance of the run of form.
“It’s been massive, really massive. I think we spoke about it before, saying about how many games we do have at home, and we need to take advantage of that, and up to now, we’ve done a great job of it.
“So, a big thank you to the fans for getting right behind us, and I think we done to the boys. We put the work in, we’ve showed quality, we’ve dug in at times, we’ve defended very well. Even today, I think there was some great blocks, some great saves, and good headers. I think towards the end, when it was 2-1, Jed Ward made a really good save coming to smother the ball.
“It’s been everybody contributing to it. Substitutes coming on. Whoever started or not, people haven’t sulked. Isaac Hutchinson was obviously out of the starting lineup today; he came on and got the goal at the end. I think we are going to need that between now and the end of the season.
"It’s everybody together. Whether you’re in the stands, on the bench or on the pitch, we need everybody, and I think if we’re able to have that sort of attitude as a group and stick together along with the backing from the fans, then I think we can start to look upwards rather than over our shoulders.”
