BRFC v Northampton - Match Thread - Saturday 10th August

Bristol Rovers verdict: Lucky 13 for the Gas as debutants shine in defence against Northampton..By Daniel Hargraves

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The culmination of 8,000 Gasheads releasing 12 years of opening day frustrations raised the decibel levels to the highest point they've reached in BS7 since the late victories over Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic at the back end of 2023. They were by no means perfect, far from it, but this new-look Bristol Rovers team did something that their predecessors haven't been able to do for the Gas since 2011 - win their first game of the season.

A 1-0 victory over Northampton Town on paper, with the greatest respect to the Cobblers, doesn't immediately suggest that the upcoming campaign will be one that goes down in the history books for Rovers. What it does do though is get fans truly on side as the club enters a new chapter with fresh faces everywhere you look.

After a rigid, stodgy opening quarter where the Gas looked like, to no surprise, a new team as Matt Taylor's men struggled to string more than a few passes together with both sides very much playing their part in making the encounter a very League One-ish (if that's even a word) affair as the ball saw very little of the grass.

However, a curling effort from debutant striker Promise Omochere denied by a good save from Cobblers 'keeper Lee Burge seemed to spring a bit of life into the hosts who finished the first half on top and then were the more dominant of the two teams over the course of the second.

As seven minutes of added time were shown on the fourth official's board, to the amusement of many given the significance of the number seven when it comes to the fiery recent past between Rovers and Northampton, belief wasn't waning from the terraces as the Thatcher's End in particular continued to roar, sensing that an opportunity could fall their side's way to snatch the three points.

And it did. After defending set-pieces outstandingly all game (more on that later), the Gas used a corner situation to find the breakthrough as Luke Thomas found another debutant in Bryant Bilongo at the back post to head home, leading to limbs that have been too scarce in 2024 so far. Finally, the Mem found its mojo once again.

Towards the back end of last season, Rovers home stadium did feel like a bit of a memorial ground. Gloomy, dim with very little signs of life as the Gas seriously struggled for results on their own turf with goals extremely rare. The boos and jeers of the Reading defeat exactly four months prior and the calls from some for Taylor to depart haven't been forgotten but now can be used as a reference point to just how improved the atmosphere was in BS7 on Saturday.

Again, it was by no means perfect and upcoming trips in the league to Rotherham United and Stockport County, plus a League Cup game at Championship side Cardiff City, look daunting. However, it was the perfect way to kick off what does feel like a new era for the football club.

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James Wilson was outstanding for Bristol Rovers against Northampton Town

Rightly, Bilongo will get the headlines for his winning goal but the true stars of the show for Rovers were the back-three of Clinton Mola, James Wilson and Taylor Moore. It may well have given the Gas one less body in the final third, the solidity with which Rovers played was something we haven't seen in a while and it was extremely refreshing.

However, a word for Wilson who was the only member of the trio here last season and, as we all know, his form dipped in the second half of last term. That was certainly left behind on Saturday though as the 35-year-old looked more like the player who won the league title with Plymouth Argyle two seasons ago, getting first to everything, winning whatever came his way and looking comfortable on the ball playing out from the back. An outstanding start to the campaign for him personally.

Although Matt Taylor would never admit to being surprised by a player, it does feel as though the 22-year-old signed from Middlesbrough has exceeded expectations with his rapid rise not necessarily anticpated to happen this quickly.

Very much an unknown to supporters when he signed, Bilongo was one of the stars of pre-season for the Gas and deserved that start as he made his EFL debut with loan spells in the National League with Woking and Ebbsfleet the highest up the pyramid he'd played.

Boasting a bag of tricks and a tall, physical profile, there's plenty to like about the wing-back, who even played up front for the final 12 minutes plus stoppage time, and that goal is a moment he'll no doubt savour forever.

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one more thing from Saturday - the sublime backheel at one point. Like Alessia Russo's goal in the Euros semi, I don't think anyone else saw it as a possibility. Brilliantly executed, and could have set up an attacking move, though it didn't

it added a bit of sizzle

I think it was Promise, not sure

There was plenty of of room, where I stand on the east terrace.  Disappointing crowd really, considering all the new signings that we`ve made. I wonder how many people were irrevocably put off, by the utter dross that we witnessed for the last three months of last season?
Anyway, all that notwithstanding, 8,500 people can create a very decent atmosphere, and that was certainly the case on Saturday.

LOL....i guessthe JB fans could be hanging out in the public gallery of what ever court room hes appearing in this week.

I hope we haven't peaked too early.