Notts County manager Martin Paterson hailed his “phenomenal” promotion-chasers after a 10-man smash-and-grab 1-0 win over struggling Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.
On-loan Tottenham midfielder Tyrese Hall saw red but substitute Matthew Dennis’ late deflected strike was enough to secure all three points and condemn Rovers to a joint-club-record eighth successive league defeat.
“I thought my players were phenomenal, and I mean phenomenal,” Paterson said.
“I say that because sometimes in football, it’s great to talk about not only just the fact that we’re in possession, an attacking team but also our defensive qualities.
“To win a game with 10 men, you’ve got to have lads that will do and give absolutely everything you ask and more.
“And I thought my lads did that today, so I’m ever so pleased with them. I can only say positive things about them.
“We’ve come down to Bristol Rovers, who were going to throw the kitchen sink at us from the first minute because they needed a win.
“I felt that we found it hard to settle and then we get the sending off so we were up against it.
“But I work with the players not only just with the ball, but I work out of possession and after we dipped last week at Colchester this is a fantastic response and that was the minimum I expect.
“When you go down to 10, and it’s a different ball game, where you have to be careful, playing in bouts, because they’re going to have the ball, and load it into the box at every opportunity.”
Rovers manager Darrell Clarke bemoaned his players’ inability to take their chances as the club’s relegation worries deepened.
“Unfortunately, it’s another hard-luck story and unless we start being ruthless where we need to be, it’s going to be a long old season,” Clarke said.
“I thought we were the better team, even at 11 v 11, when we had total domination.
“We had loads and loads and loads of territory and chances but you’ve got to stick the ball in the back of the net.
“I’m not knocking my lads for the effort, the endeavour, I’m knocking them for quality in the final third.
“It’s tough to take. I’m frustrated and disappointed for my team but I’m not really a hard-luck sort of guy.”
