But just after former Rovers transfer target Alfie May hit the woodwork for the hosts, Barton’s men went down the other end as Grant Ward lobbed a ball over the top to substitute Luke McCormick. “Chest, bang, goal,” as he described the sequence to the club’s media.

Five points from an opening trio of Portsmouth, Barnsley and Charlton is an impressive return to start the season and to welcome the manager back from his stadium ban with a win in that manner is the stuff of dreams.

Speaking to the club’s media on the victory, Barton said: “There’s nothing better than a 90th minute winner but I felt on the balance of play we deserved it. Credit to them, they’re not a bad side at all, I think they’re going to be a lot better when they get one or two more bodies back. But again, it’s a tricky place to come and visit.

“It was not long ago that we hadn’t won here for 50 odd years so like London buses we managed to get two on the spin. I think on the weight of chances created, to come away from home and create those chances and get ourselves in the lead, we kept pushing on to try and get the second but for some really good defending and some goal line clearances from their defenders or ‘keeper.

“Then they get a goal from almost against the run of play and then, as it does here at the Valley, the crowd get behind them. It’s a fantastic place to play football, the pitch is fantastic, the fans are a great set of fans. They’ve obviously got behind the team then there was a bit of a momentum wave coming at us.”

The 40-year-old added: “We had to ride our luck a little bit. Alfie May, we wanted to bring him to our football club, arguably one of the best finishers in the division, hits the post. In recent weeks, the Barnsley goal licks the post and goes in, the Portsmouth goal licks the post and goes in and we got a little bit of luck today.

“We kept pushing with even more attacking subs with Lofty and Macca coming on and one of those got us a goal. You always know with Luke, if he’s on the pitch, he’s got a chance of scoring a goal for you. So absolutely buzzing for him.”

Barton was also interviewed by BBC Radio Bristol pre and post-match, with the manager revealing why fan favourite James Belshaw has been left out of the last two matchday squads, having missed Tuesday’s trip to the capital as well as Saturday’s home draw against Barnsley.

“From our perspective, there’s a standard of behaviour,” the Rovers boss stated. “James is obviously going to be disappointed with Matthew Cox coming in and taking the starting jersey. But on two Saturdays on the spin, last Saturday at Portsmouth his agent phoned Eddy [Jennings] I think before a ball was kicked to try and speak about moving and Saturday, 10 o’clock before the game’s kicked off, Belly’s ringing me asking if he can go on loan to another club which I felt was very selfish.

“At that point, I decided he’s not going to be part of our group going forward and if he’s here beyond the deadline in September then we’ll have a discussion about that. But from my perspective, I think Belly wants to be number one and I can understand that. He’s been number one for a large period of his Bristol Rovers career but you’ve got to support the team and you’ve got to support the man in the jersey.

“I get, if he’d had phoned me Sunday or Monday to tell me about this opportunity, I’d have understood that. But ringing twice, getting your agent to ring once on Saturday morning before a ball’s been kicked for the first league game and then the following weekend to do it yourself as a 32-year-old I think that’s just wrong.

“I don’t think he’s focused on the team. I don’t think he’s focused on anything other than what he wants to do. He can go and focus on that now, from my perspective, away from the football club. He’s been great in the league two seasons and I like James. I think he’s a good man but sometimes he lets his emotions get the better of him and unfortunately he’s reached the end of his tether with me.”

Radio Bristol also enquired about how many more transfers in fans can expect after the club announced the acquisition of attacking midfielder Harvey Vale on loan from Chelsea two hours before kick-off.

“From our perspective, we’ve got a little bit to do in terms of just putting together the final pieces of the jigsaw,” Barton revealed. “We’re moving a few of those things on. Things in football aren’t done until they’re done but we’re hoping to get some breakthroughs in the early part of next week or the back part of this week.

“As I say, we’ve got a couple to do. I think we’ve recruited really, really well. We’ve got some lads to come into the mix. We’ve got the nucleus of a really good squad, a little bit of tweaking in our group. We’re going to lose a few. There’s a few lads who are going to want to go and play and they’re having to be patient at this moment in time.

“But again, we’re getting closer to that final piece of the jigsaw which is hopefully not on Deadline Day, that’s why I’ve got grey hair now. It tends to go into the back end but I’m hoping to have it all done by then so we’ve got a really boring transfer deadline.”

On Vale, the manager added: “We’ve been pursuing him since the turn of the calendar year. It’s difficult because of the loan situation. I think he played on loan and for the Chelsea U23s so it meant that he couldn’t go out for that secondary loan which must have been frustrating for him and for Chelsea. Thankfully, they’ve trusted us with this stage of his development this year.

“We’re still learning about him, he’s only trained with us for a couple of days but he’s already given a good account of himself in training and I’m excited about working with him over this next period because he’s a really talented individual.”