Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton believes Town go into tonight’s game at the Memorial Stadium with a different pressure on them from when the teams met at Portman Road earlier in the season.

When the Gas, who have lost their last five, four of those in the league, visited Portman Road in September and were beaten 2-0, Town were top of the table. Now the Blues are third, six points behind second-placed Sheffield Wednesday and eight behind leaders Plymouth.

“There’s a little bit of a gap opening up, they can’t afford to slip up at this point,” Barton told BristolLive. “There’s a different pressure on them now than there was when we went to Portman Road earlier on in the season.

“With the greatest of respect, they’re sides where we kind of get a free one as a newly-promoted team, based on their spend.

“We’re in our stadium and we’re a wounded animal and I can’t wait to get in that stadium and get after them because we haven’t won four on the spin, but there’s an absurd mindset that we like to take on the big boys.”

Barton has been frustrated by referees in recent games with a number of decisions having gone against his side during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Lincoln, including the dismissal of striker Ryan Loft.

“It depends what the officials decide to do, if they decide to help the opponent out like they have done,” he added ruefully.

“Hopefully we get a square go. We can beat anybody - we know that - we can beat absolutely anybody, but if the referee and officiating team don’t call it square then you’re up against it because you’re competing against the invisible enemy.”

Photo: Action Images

Gforce added 10:41 - Feb 14 Barton with his mind games, trying to influence the ref by any chance?
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buzbyblue added 10:51 - Feb 14 Never liked Barton, but have to agree the officials in this league are god damn awful
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Cakeman added 11:32 - Feb 14 I think he is spot on and in fairness he usually is. I think he is doing a good job at Bristol as he did at Fleetwood.
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HopefulBlue69 added 11:35 - Feb 14 Whether for us this is a must win game or not (personally for me not, as we're in the playoffs now either way) the concern for me is what will the team be... I have no idea and TBH I doubt the players do until the team gets "posted" in the dressing room (old school I know)... How can we hope to be a top of the table team when as a player you have no idea if your going to play... I'd take a draw today if KM plays a settled team for the next 5 games....

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MickJ65 added 11:44 - Feb 14 Have to agree with Barton on this as much as it upsets me to do that - the Officials in this League are laughable. However, if you know what you are playing against then there no excuses for anyone including ourselves. As frustrating as it is to be officiated by numpties, you put your head down and keep going. Unfortunately, it's not going to change - at least for this season.

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jas0999 added 11:49 - Feb 14 Not a fan of Barton, but his comments seem very reasonable. We should be winning these games, it is certainly a feee hit for them. The amount of money we have spent, the pressure should be on.
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BlueInBerks added 12:10 - Feb 14 The cushion to balance against idiot officiating is to score more goals.
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johnwarksshorts added 15:03 - Feb 14 Barton will get his team fired up for this one, but we mustn't fall into this trap like we have on so many occassions which I believe is down to the mental side of our game. This is imo a must win game as are the next 5 against lower league position sides if we are to maintain 3rd spot and hope the top 2 have a blip.
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