Opposition view: Barton laments 'two points lost' after 'mad moments' against Cobblers

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton rued 'two points lost' after his side paid for some 'mad moments' during their 1-1 draw against Northampton on Saturday.

Luke Leahy's close-range goal on 19 minutes set Rovers on their way to three points and a victory that would have taken them out of the bottom four.

But Jack Baldwin dragged down Alex Jones late on and Sam Hoskins made no mistake from 12 yards to leave the spoils shared and keep Rovers firmly in the mire.

"It's two points lost," said Barton. "We were in a position to go and win the game and have it in our own hands, but you can't account for madness.

"It was a scrappy affair but you've just got to manage conditions and you've got to play in the right part of the pitch.

"There wasn't going to be much football played and it was going to be cagey because of the state of play for both teams but we started well, got into the ascendency and obviously took the lead.

"We didn't do enough in the back end of the first-half so we challenged the players at half-time to go out and get the second goal because at some point the centre-forwards have to start scoring goals.

"Scoring a second goal would take pressure off the defensive unit and it would stop those mad moments that we are suffering with at this moment in time.

"I think this is the most testing period I've ever had in football - I don't remember seeing so many errors in such a short space of time.

"I don't intend to see it for much longer because it's got to stop and it's got to be eradicated. They're good lads and good people but if you keep giving goals away, you give yourself a mountain to climb.

"I'll sort that out in the summer but at this moment in time we have to get the best out of what we've got."