Bristol Rovers bounced back from a winless September with victories over Charlton and Burton Albion this week, bringing them within three points of the play-off spots.
With team morale rising, goalkeeper Josh Griffiths praised the club’s strong away support.
Their 3-2 home win on Tuesday was followed by a 3-1 comeback victory against ten-man Burton Albion on Saturday, marking the Pirates’ first away win of the season.
Although Rovers didn’t manage a clean sheet in either match, Griffiths – on loan from West Brom – made nine crucial saves across both games, playing a key role in their resurgence.
While manager Matt Taylor is still working to strengthen the defense, Griffiths has been busy this season. Despite Rovers conceding 16 goals in 10 games, the 23-year-old has made 38 saves, the highest in the league.
| Total Saves – League One 2024/25 (FBRef) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Team | Goals Against | Saves | Save % |
| Joshua Griffiths | Bristol Rovers | 16 | 38 | 70.4% |
| Christy Pym | Mansfield Town | 11 | 36 | 76.1% |
| Joseph Whitworth | Exeter City | 6 | 34 | 84.6% |
| Max Crocombe | Burton Albion | 16 | 31 | 67.4% |
| Arthur Okonkwo | Wrexham | 8 | 30 | 78.9% |
| Sam Tickle | Wigan Athletic | 5 | 30 | 85.7% |
Griffiths will hope that if his team’s form continues, clean sheets will inevitably follow.
Great Away Following
After signing a three-year contract extension with West Bromwich Albion in June, the Hereford-born keeper expressed his excitement for a big season ahead.
Given this, he may have initially been disappointed when he was sent on loan to Bristol Rovers the following month. However, it seems he’s starting to enjoy his time at the Memorial Stadium.
On Sunday morning, Griffiths shared his appreciation for Rovers’ traveling fans on Instagram, celebrating their support during the 3-1 win at Burton, saying, “6 point week. Great away following yesterday! UTG.”
Rovers are known for their strong away support, averaging around 1,135 traveling fans per game in the 2023/24 season. Although exact numbers for Saturday’s game weren’t available, it’s safe to assume Rovers’ fans made up a significant portion of the over 3,000 attendees at the Pirelli Stadium.
Griffiths showing promise
It wasn’t too long ago that Josh Griffiths, then 19, was the talk of goalkeeping scouts. During his 2020/21 loan at Cheltenham Town, he achieved an incredible 21 clean sheets, helping the club secure the League Two title.
His standout performances as a teenage goalkeeper led to genuine hopes of a future England call-up.
Since then, Griffiths’ career has been more modest. A loan spell at Lincoln City yielded just two clean sheets in 33 games, cut short by an ankle injury in March. Aside from a brief loan to Portsmouth, his only action over the next two seasons came in 10 appearances for West Brom in early 2023. Last season, he spent all 48 of the Baggies’ Championship matches as an unused substitute.
At 23, Griffiths remains a highly talented goalkeeper who simply needs regular game time. His loan spell at Bristol Rovers appears to be a great fit for everyone involved. The more he connects with his new fanbase, the smoother his journey will be.
Given that goalkeepers often hit their peak later in their careers, there’s still every chance for Griffiths to develop into a top player. Rovers fans will be hoping his form continues as they aim to avoid a relegation fight and push for more success.
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