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When Jonson Clarke-Harris left Bristol Rovers at the end of August, the pre-season optimism of many of Rovers’ fans went with him.
Their main goal threat had gone. A man who scored 27 goals in 52 games for the Gas. A man who gave Gasheads hope whenever he was on the pitch with his ability to produce moments of magic, often out of nowhere.
Two weeks later, on the eve of the new season, striker Brandon Hanlan arrived from Gillingham having turned down a new deal in Kent.
As well as Gillingham wanting to keep the forward, Hanlan was linked to a number of other clubs in League One, making him something of a coup for Ben Garner’s side.
Despite that, Hanlan only managed seven goals in 39 appearances in all competitions for Gillingham last season, less than half of Clarke-Harris’ total of 16 in 35 games.
But Hanlan was not a direct replacement for JCH. In previous seasons it’s been argued that Rovers relied too heavily on Clarke-Harris, and when he wasn’t on form they looked poor, and usually lost.
Garner has tried to completely change the way that Bristol Rovers play since taking over from Graham Coughlan in December last year. While Coughlan’s style was effective, it was not attractive.
Many Gasheads were happy to see Coughlan depart for Mansfield last season despite the club being in the middle of their best season in a long time, in terms of results and the league table.
Garner has now got Rovers playing a very different style of football. But it came at a price. Rovers won just twice in the league after Coughlan’s departure last season, both of which came at home.
An improvement was needed in results this season, and without Clarke-Harris there was a worry about where the goals were going to come from. But Rovers this season are more of a team, with more focal points in the team.
Against Lincoln, Brandon Hanlan played a key role in the new system. The 23-year-old was tasked with holding the ball up whilst being double marked, freeing up space for James Daly, or another player, to exploit.
But there is more to Hanlan’s game than just his ball retention. He was a constant threat for a Lincoln defence that had looked strong in previous games this season, and he played a key role in Rovers’ second goal.
Hanlan was breaking into the box when he was taken down by Adam Jackson for the Rovers penalty, which he stepped up and converted himself for his second goal in as many weeks.
Both of these goals have been penalties, but Hanlan has won both penalties himself. With two goals in the opening five games Hanlan has the same record as Clarke-Harris at Peterborough so far this campaign.
While not signed as a direct replacement, if his current form can be maintained then he could replace the goals for Rovers.
But it is not just the goals that he offers. Hanlan’s hold up play frustrated Lincoln and he won numerous free-kicks on and around the halfway line which helped Rovers territorially moving up the pitch.
Hanlan was also fouled for the first of Adam Jackson’s two yellow cards, a late challenge which left the Rovers forward struggling for the rest of the game. But it also left Lincoln struggling when Jackson was sent off later on, Hanlan having played a big role in frustrating the centre back.
Ben Garner said: “I thought he [Hanlan] was very good. His work rate and what he gives us is fantastic. He probably wasted one or two opportunities first half where he didn’t get away from people, then second half he came alive.
“Up until getting the whack in his back I thought he was unplayable at times. I think we’ve done really good business with what we’ve generated out, but also with what we’ve brought in, in Brandon Hanlan.
“I thought his ability to win the penalty again was fantastic, same as last week, but I think we saw the other side of his game today.
“There were some real heavy challenges, one very sore one, but he gritted his teeth and got through it for 20 minutes for the team. I think that’s a good indicator of where we’re going as a side.
“We didn’t have a focus on replacing him [Clarke-Harris], we had an idea of the type of team we wanted, the type of togetherness, the type of workrate and the type of play that we wanted.
“Rather than focussing on an individual we focussed on a group of players that we felt would enhance us and make us better. That’s what we aimed to do and hopefully that will prove the case over the season.”
That team of players took the game to Lincoln, as Cian Harries, Jack Baldwin and Max Ehmer stood strong to most of what Lincoln threw at them. Josh Grant, Luke McCormick and Zain Westbrooke were composed in possession, with Daly and Hanlan causing problems for the Lincoln defence.
In truth, the first half passed without much action. Neither team really had a hold of the game. Rovers had looked comfortable and confident in possession, but it was probably Lincoln who had created the better chances, although nothing came of them.
After the break the game changed very quickly. Lincoln took the lead within a minute with a Lewis Motsma header beating Anssi Jaakkola, although it may have had a bit of help from Jack Baldwin on the way in.
Motsma was injured in the goal, and went off before play restarted. Within a minute of Rovers kicking off they had equalised after Daly headed in a Josh Hare cross.
But Rovers undoubtably benefitted from the fact that the Lincoln defence was still reorganising with Montsma coming back onto the pitch after the kick off, and having a long way to go from the touchline to his right centre back role on the far side.
The winner came ten minutes later, in a spell where Rovers had been on top. Hanlan won the penalty, Hanlan scored the penalty.
Lincoln had still been getting forward, and into good areas, but their front three was struggling. It was only Jorge Grant and Conor McGrandles who really looked like they were going to make something happen.
And they did cause problems for the Rovers defence, but most of what Lincoln threw forward was dealt with leaving Jaakkola with little to do in the Rovers goal.
After the sending off, it was actually Lincoln who looked the more likely to score, throwing a lot of players forward in their hunt for an equaliser, but Rovers held strong. Their game management was good, and Lincoln left further frustrated at not managing to find a goal.
This was the first away win for Bristol Rovers under manager Ben Garner. It was also the first time they have won back-to-back games under Garner, having beaten Northampton Town 2-0 last weekend.
Rovers have players who are good on the ball, which is something Garner wanted to bring in, but they also have some physical players in their side, which could cause problems for a number of sides in League One this season.
Michael Appleton said: “Some of the centre forwards at Charlton, the likes of Bonne, who has now moved on, is very physical. Last week at Blackpool, they’re a big physical side and the lad Yates who played for them up top.
“I think you’ve sometimes got to give a bit of respect to the opposition, and Hanlan is a handful. I saw him play at Doncaster where Bristol lost 4-1 but he was a right handful, and he could have scored two or three that day as well.
“I’ll leave it to other managers and other coaches to decide if that’s a weakness of ours.”
League One
EFL
