Having just read up on it, I think I was wrong. The football league had two options: let the result stand or order a replay. For obvious reasons they let the result stand, so the goals are in the record books. It's not exactly clear because it often states the football league awarded the game to WBA, which I guess they technically did, but it looks like they did that by letting the result on the day stand, rather than it being the 3-0 they award if the other team doesn't turn up. I think everyone was in a bit of a flap about what to do as this is the one and only time in the history of English Football that this rule (fewer than 7 players) has ever been implemented.
I remember a lot of confusion at the time, but I had absolutely no idea until now that it had never happened before. It's a good job John Motson wasn't commentating on the match, as he'd have possibly got even more excited than he did when they painted the penalty spot on mid-game at the Baseball Ground, which would surely have led to him spontaneously combusting in his seat.
That's a pleasing feeling we haven't had for what seems like forever. Excellent all round. Benson, getting better and better. Williams up there. And cole, deserves a mention cos he certainly must have had his best game for us tonight. Bit more composure with the odd pass or just bloody shoot instead and that could have been a cricket score. Confidence booster definitely. Well in, lads
Well done half yard quicker all over the pitch. Good football all over the pitch, rovers had no answer to intensity. Still lots of work to do ...I still think we need strikers but hard to be critical on that performance. Well done coach and players....more of the same Saturday please...it will be a tough one against a very physical team who specialise in the dark arts.
Eh? Bit harsh - we pretty much stopped playing when he came on, the game was won - just needed to see it out for half an hour - and he did his best to keep their back line on their toes. Often single handed. I thought he was ok; certainly wouldn’t say disappointing.
I have one. The f*ckwits in the Ponty end wolf whistling and chanting "Get your **** out for the lads" when the opposition physio came on to the pitch. It's not 1975 anymore lads and in case you hadn't noticed, Vicky Stevens is a woman. Tossers.
I saw that too, very very frustrating. We've not seen that nonsense at Oakwell in ages and it's not like there hasn't been female physios. Keep it classy Ponte end.
The only possible negative was that Rovers looked like relegation fodder but then realised that they were in top half of table ! Barnsley were class. When was last time we won 3-0 ?
Even if Bristol are relegation fodder - and its a bit too early to say if yesterday was just an off day like we had at Plymouth we looked a lot better than that. The encoraging thing is we seem to be improving - Poor at Plymouth - better but not great v Cheltenham, Poor first half but excellent second v Derby, much improved again against Bristol. Hope its a trend thats going to keep going
https://gaschat.co.uk/thread/20012/barnsley-bristol-rovers-matchday-thread?page=14 Lots of praise from Rovers fans.