Joey Barton has warned last year’s Player of the Year James Belshaw, that his attitude must improve if he’s to suit up for Bristol again, according to James Piercy from BristolLive.
Barton himself has been in the headlines recently for his reactions off the field after Saturdays 1-0 defeat to Lincoln, but he’s now looking at Rovers’ previous No. 1 to improves his attitude after being left out of the match day squad against Ipswich Town.
The 32-year old won Bristol Rovers’ Player of the Year last year in a promotion winning season, however he has had a less successful season this time round. In 27 appearances Rovers have only kept a clean sheet five times when Belshaw has been in net, leading to a change in the sticks.
After a impressive first half of the season at Crawley Town, Brentford loanee Ellery Balcombe made the switch to The Gas and has found regular playing time. His loan included a clause that he must start the first three games of his spell, or Rovers would be liable for a fee.
Though three games has since past yet against Ipswich last night, Barton elected to stick with Balcombe wearing the gloves.
The Bristol gaffer explained his decision to drop Belshaw, following the 0-0 draw with 4th placed Ipswich.
Barton said :”James was disappointed yesterday when we named the team, it then affected his training performance and his attitude wasn’t at the level I would expect it to be if you’re a Bristol Rovers player.
“He’s been superb for us, Belly, a really good citizen and a great goalkeeper for us but nobody is bigger than our team and the football club.
“We’ve got a lot of good players here, more than 11 good players, sometimes people are going to be on the bench or not in the starting XI and they have to park that frustration and emotion and support the man in the jersey.
“After the game’s taken place, come and chat at the manager’s door for the reasons but you can’t allow that to affect your training performance because you become an energy sapper and you drag the group down.
“Belly’s had the evening off and if his attitude and training performance doesn’t change that’ll be the last anyone sees of him in the quarters jersey.”
