ON THE BALL: Rovers' temporary management team of Steve Ball and Dave Connell made a winning start. Ref: NT05066
WHO needs Mourinho when we've got our physio?
At this rate the sentiments of the infamous chant which provided the soundtrack to Scunthorpe United's march to the Championship under physio Nigel Adkins will be echoing around the Victoria Ground.
Rovers' own man with the magic sponge Steve Ball - placed in temporary charge of first team affairs along with reserve team boss Dave Connell - oversaw a performance which blew away a nine-game winless run with venom. And maybe it wasn't all beginner's luck.
Victory over an inconsistent Rugby Town side meant that Ball has presided over both of the Greens' two home league wins this season - the first, a 3-1 success over Mangotsfield in September, coming in Rod Brown's absence.
Of course, any suggestion that the well-liked treatment man is the ideal manager in waiting is premature.
But Ball and Connell have already taken giant strides in wetting the appetite of the next incumbent.
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Highlighted furthermore for prospective occupants of the manager's office, however, was the need to hold on to ever-reliable midfielder Matt Birley.
Birley epitomised the free spirit with which the Rovers midfield played.
His probing runs asked constant questions of the visitor's defence, while he carved out a host of first half chances, eventually giving Rovers a deserved 19th minute lead.
The opener came via an immaculate defence-splitting through ball from the reborn Dave Bridgwater.
The midfielder possesses the skills and natural ability to be a huge hit with the Rovers fans, but has yet to fulfil his potential. However, Saturday signalled an upturn in his form - tidy in possession while displaying an impressive range of passing.
He cut the visiting back line open and Birley was left with plenty of time to drive a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
More chances came and went for Birley, before Richard Ball eased nerves in first half stoppage time with his second goal in as many games.
The strike came in a similar manner to the opener, this time Alsop turning provider. Rugby failed to clear their lines with green and white shirts swarming the penalty area.
Alsop, taking up a wide position 35 yards from goal threaded Ball through, and the on-loan Redditch United man struck fiercely across goal to double the Greens' advantage.
And while Rovers fans were struggling to believe what they were witnessing, there was still time for Damien Markman to squeeze in a third before the break.
Bridgwater again provided the killer ball from a set-piece near the left hand corner flag after Birley was felled, and nimble Markman rose to plant his header past Martyn Margeson.
Tension existed around the Victoria Ground despite a three goal lead.
Given the recent run of results, this was understandable.
Rovers never flourished in the same manor during the second half, and the Rugby rearguard put up more stubborn resistance. But Markman's predatorary instincts provided a welcome relief 20 minutes from time.
Another Bridgwater free-kick was floated onto the head of Guy Sanders.
His effort was scrambled away but was barely cleared beyond the penalty spot, and Markman redirected a low shot on target past a crowd of Rugby defenders.
Cue numerous sighs of relief from the terraces, and perhaps, dare we say, a further wad of job applications landing on Tom Herbert's desk.
After all, this is the job that, according to some supporters before kick-off "nobody would possibly want".
Of course, the new man at the helm will still be greeted by a tough task.
Finding the right man to take it on is going to be arduous enough.
It could even prove to be the most crucial decision Herbert makes in his Rovers tenure.
Until then Ball and Connell appear more than capable of keeping the pot boiling nicely.
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