So we have finally made it across the line thanks to another gritty away performance that has been the feature of the second half of our season.
In the future when we look back at this campaign it has been all about two managers and a striker. It sounds like the name of a film but would it be a comedy or a horror movie?
Who could have guessed at the start of the season that things would go so wrong for Darrell Clarke? He was a popular manager thanks to the way he brought us into League One on the back of two promotions.
But his recruitment of players last summer was not good, especially the signing of Stefan Payne from Shrewsbury Town where he had scored 12 goals the previous season. The big striker never got off the ground so to speak and it was no surprise when he was shipped off back to the Shrews.
As the season wore on Clarke became the tinker man, making far too many changes every game. Maybe that was why the squad stopped playing for him as not knowing if they were going to keep their place surely hit their confidence.
So when Graham Coughlan was made temporary caretaker manager we didn’t think it would be for long as names such as Ian Holloway and former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler were apparently in the frame.
But Coughlan’s secret has been to play to his strength. As a defensive coach he turned Rovers into a hard side to beat which has not been pretty but it has certainly been effective.
The striker in this tale is of course big Jonson Clarke-Harris who came in like Superman to take Rovers forward with a series of spectacular goals. To be sat right behind the goal at Plymouth when he smashed it into the top corner is something I will never forget.
Our line-up at Fleetwood came as no surprise. After our terrible performance at home to Rochdale it made sense to keep things tight at the back. In fact, against the wind in the first half Rovers played some better football than they had on Easter Monday by keeping better possession of the ball.
The battling side picked up four yellow cards. In the past we have been soundly beaten without anyone picking up a caution which indicates there is more spirit in this present side.
Obviously we hope the manager can bring in some more creative players for next season as my nerves won’t stand the style of play Rovers have shown particularly at home recently.
