Grant McCann lavished praise on striker Joe Ironside as he hit the 20-goal mark for the season in the 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley.
Ironside fired in Rovers’ second of an excellent afternoon to move on 20 goals in all competitions and 16 in Sky Bet League Two - his best return for a season in EFL competition.
“He’s a top player Joe and I think his performance upped the level that he showed on Tuesday night,” McCann said.
“His hold up play was great, he was pinning people and bringing others into play. Haks and Mols could make their movements off him.
“I’m really pleased. It was quite similar to the goal he scored the other night - just arriving late and passing it into the corner.
“It’s great for Joe and I’m really pleased because when I spoke to him in the summer about coming here I told him he’d get goals in this team, with how we play. I’m glad he’s delivered.”
In reaching 20 goals, Ironside became the first Rovers player to do so since John Marquis in McCann’s previous spell at the club.
McCann said: “They’re similar in many ways and different in others. John was an interesting character and a really good person to have around the building. He was really high all the time and drove standards.
“Joe is quite similar but they’re different in terms of how they play.
“It’s nice to see that Joe is in that sort of bracket - the first player to score 20 goals for Rovers since John Marquis is really good for him.”
