Burton's Bristol Rovers Reaction

Argyle won a penalty shoot-out against Bristol Rovers in The Pilgrims’ first Papa John’s Trophy game of the season, following a 1-1 draw.

As is often the case in shoot-outs, a goalkeeper rose to the fore, and with both teams having missed on and scored one after two spot-kicks, Callum Burton dived low and true to keep out Harvey Greenslade’s penalty. Argyle players converted all their remaining kicks, and The Greens picked up a bonus point for their efforts.

“It was good to be back out there,” said Callum. “It’s always nice, as a keeper, when it goes to pens, because you can’t really lose. You just do your best and hope you go the right way, which I did once at least.

“If you go the wrong way five times, it is what it is, but if you save one or two, it can win the game.

“A lot of details go into it, studying their penalty takers. It’s nice when research pays off. I’ve been lucky enough to experience quite a lot of penalty shoot-outs, and you get better at reading people the more you practise.

“The standard of our boys’ penalties was unbelievable. It’s alright saving them, but they’ve got to score for us to win, and we did that. Credit to the lads taking them.”

The positive start, earning two points from the evening, sets Argyle up well with two games remaining in the competition’s group stage. A trip to Swindon Town in September precedes a home game against Crystal Palace Under-21s, who won 2-0 at Swindon while Argyle were taking on Rovers.

Although plenty of changes were made to the Argyle starting line-up, the fact that quality runs deep in the squad means it was still a strong 11 named, and Burton praised not only the depth, but the mentality fostered by manager Steven Schumacher.

Burton said: “I was happy, personally, and I think for the team it was a big bonus, because there were a few lads out there who haven’t had the minutes they would want. The gaffer put it to us: ‘go and show why you should start on Saturday.’

“That is the environment he has built this year. It is not a team of 12 or 13 players, but 18, 19, 20 players who can do a job – and all have done. It’s healthy for the squad, and it is showing so far in the league.”