Joey Barton was pleased with his side’s performance following the 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers on Boxing Day.
Barton’s side got off to the best start possible thanks to a lovely header from Paddy Madden and went into the break a goal to the good after tight nit defending towards the end of the half.
Second half goals from Ash Hunter and a second one from the Irishman sealed the points and the double over promotion hopefuls Doncaster Rovers. Town are now seven unbeaten at home in the league, with four back to back clean sheets.
Here is what Barton had to say after the win…
On the game….
“It was a game of two halves, and I think in the first half there might have been some Christmas hangover from the Bristol Rovers game. Saying that, I thought we could have been more efficient in the first half.
“I spoke to the lads at half time and we changed a few things around and in the second half we were first class and well worthy of the commanding 3-0 score line in the end.
“When you know you have top quality finishers in your team, you know you don’t have to create as many chances and Paddy [Madden] is someone who is very efficient. It was a great ball into the box from [Nathan] Sheron and like he always is, he is always on the move and has that quality on the header put us in the lead.
“I am really delighted and the key thing for me is the level of performance and if we are there, we are a good side but the challenge is to be more consistent. It’s now seven unbeaten in the league and four clean sheets and that is something we are really proud of because it’s important to make Highbury a difficult place to come.”
On the defensive performance from the team…
“Shez [Sheron] has filled in a number of positions for us and done great, the skipper [Craig Morgan] is back and obviously he brings that presence to the side with his communication and organisation.
“I also think he settles a lot of the other lads down in and around him and that is down to his pedigree as a player. I am delighted for Cairnsy [Alex Cairns], Ash Eastham and the rest of the defence because getting a clean sheet is important, it’s like a badge of honour.
“I talked about being disciplined and structured and the second comes from that and good team work and from Ched’s hard work, he finds Ash Hunter who – who was unselfish to find Ash – probably won’t score an easier goal in the rest of his career.”
On a late Christmas present for the fans…
“Yes it is nice for them, but for me it’s the best Christmas present I have had over Christmas, and I did get some good ones yesterday but none more rewarding than the three points today.
“There was some ill-feeling should we say around the Bristol Rovers, and with Ched’s red card being rescinded, it is massive for us and I did speak after that game about how unjust it was, and thankfully the FA have seen that and made the correct decision.”