Bristol Rovers Needed To Win 7-0 Against Scunthorpe To Go Up Automatically... They Just Did It
Bristol Rovers secured automatic promotion in the most dramatic way possible after they knocked seven goals past Scunthorpe on the final day of the League Two season.
After results went their way earlier in the week, Joey Barton's side needed to outscore Northampton on Saturday afternoon to overtake them on goal difference – and they did exactly that at the Memorial Stadium.
Scunthorpe, who sit bottom of League Two with 26 points, got off to an awful start when Oliver Lobley netted an own goal.
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Things didn't get much better for the Irons as Rovers defender Connor Taylor made it 2-0 with 22 minutes played.
Going into the second-half, Barton's men needed five more goals to secure an automatic place into League One. It was a monumental task but to their credit, they upped their game.
Aaron Collins and Antony Evans both netted a brace, then an 85th minute strike from Elliot Anderson brought some incredible scenes at the Memorial Stadium.
The scenes at full time as Bristol Rovers won 7-0 to get promoted by one goal scored 😍 pic.twitter.com/jtKnECaIg9
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) May 7, 2022
86' FKJBAWFIHBADLKNOAJDAIODJAHDBKJABWDHBADJKNADKJADOJKNAJDKOADWHJKADJ#Gas 7-0 #Iron pic.twitter.com/jUUj41mqK4
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) May 7, 2022
Ridiculous scenes as Bristol Rovers score SEVEN to move themselves into the automatic promotion places in League Two... 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/iWAfNO27QS
— BettingOdds (@BettingOddsUK) May 7, 2022
My hometown team Bristol Rovers went into the last day of the season needing to better Northamptons result or win by more than 5 goals than them.. following the game + Northampton are winning so I’m resigned to a play off place… check the rovers score and.. we’re going up!!!!! pic.twitter.com/DTg25U4UNI
— Luke (@ParallelParkJi) May 7, 2022
Northampton picked up a 3-1 win against Barrow on their travels as Sam Hoskins scored a brace, but it wasn't enough.
Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton was in confident spirits ahead of kick-off. He had every right to be considering their form of late.
"The Gas are coming, you can feel it in the ether of the city," he said via The Daily Mail.
"That was my dream, to ignite the blue half of Bristol. We’ve lit a spark and we’re hoping that will turn into a big roaring bonfire in the next couple of years. The rest of the English pyramid will sit up and take notice.
"Six months ago, they were throwing sausage rolls and V-signs everywhere telling me to get out of town. It’s a funny old game football. King of the jungle one minute and knocked on your backside next minute.
"I’ve had both sides of the coin here. Last season was as tough a period as I’ve had in my professional football journey."
Bristol Rovers had to win 7-0 on the final day to finish Top 3 and earn automatic promotion.
— Matchday365 (@Matchday365) May 7, 2022
They won 7-0.
Joey Barton Magic 🪄 pic.twitter.com/qzDbgcBrgO
Topics: League Two, Joey Barton
Jack Kenmare