Bristol Rovers: Fan's view with Dennis Payter

THE King is dead, long live the King, or in the case of Garry Kenneth I think he should keep the captain's armband.

Often the biggest and strongest make the best leaders and the powerful Kenneth led by example against The Cobblers. He may lack pace, but the former Scotland international has a lot of experience and can be seen geeing up the youngsters when the going gets tough.

Sometimes the changes that are forced on a manager are the best ones as in the case of the last-minute withdrawl of Matt Gill through injury.

I have felt that the captain has been struggling for several games. Although good on the ball with a neat passing game, he lacks the strength and aggression needed in midfield in League Two.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

Our starting line-up looked much better also with the return of Tom Parkes for Adam Virgo and looked even better once the visitors were reduced to ten men.

The squad suddenly looks stronger and much the better for the competition for places. Wayne Brown again came on and worked hard.

Lee Brown also looked full of running when he appeared, although I was disappointed to see Fabian Broghammer taken off. I don't know why the manager feels he has to make changes when we are playing well.

However, for once we did not struggle against ten men and it was just a matter of time before we went ahead. It was great that Tom Eaves got the opening goal and his first-ever in senior football. The powerful youngster worked hard all afternoon and deserved his goal, and doesn't he play like a certain Rickie Lambert?

Our other loan striker Derek Riordan was unlucky to hit the bar, but once he starts firing on all cylinders and gets fully fit we can start climbing the table.

Once we got two up we fell into that familiar trap (but not this season!) of being so much on top that we became too casual and conceded from a long throw which none of our defenders attacked.

It was disappointing to concede in that way to the giant that is Adebayo Akinfenwa, who has now scored against us in the last three games against The Cobblers. According to the Northampton Town website, he weighs in at 13t 7lb. If that is the case then our matchday announcer, who does like all the pies, is a ten stone weakling.

After the shameful abusive chanting from the Blackthorn End last Wednesday against one of our former players, it was good to hear the fans heed the warning on Saturday to cut it out. Someone called out at Akinfenwa "you fat person" instead of the usual obscenity. Nice one.

It was great to get that first home win under our belts, now let's hope we can push on up the table.