‘Get his act together’ – Bristol Rovers boss sends message to former AFC Wimbledon midfielder after sub gets subbed

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton has urged Luke McCormick to ‘get his act together’ after the former AFC Wimbledon midfielder was pulled off nine minutes after being substituted on during their 3-1 win over Forest Green on Saturday.

Barton brought McCormick in the 80th minute for Aaron Collins, with Rovers 3-1 up against Duncan Ferguson’s side.

But the 24-year-old Chelsea academy graduate was hauled off nine minutes later after picking up a yellow card and also giving away a penalty in his short cameo.

Rovers stopper James Belshaw kept out Corey O’Keeffe’s penalty, but ex-Newcastle and QPR midfielder Barton replaced McCormick with James Connolly in the 89th minute.

McCormick left Wimbledon in the summer after they were relegated to League Two.

“He’s a fortunate boy, he’s a very lucky boy James Belshaw has saved the penalty,” said Barton to the press post-match.

“If I was Macca, this week I’d be buying Belly a nice present because he’s gone on, for some bizarre reason, gets himself in an altercation and gets himself a yellow card. 

“You’re running a tightrope then straight away. The ball goes down the other end of the pitch, and he pulls the lad down in the box – it’s a stonewall pen.

“He’s a very fortunate boy the ref didn’t deem that a second yellow, and then you get the penalty to face and you’re down to ten men.

“They’re fighting for their lives, and it would have been the gee-up the stadium would have needed, and who knows what would have happened in those final 10 minutes.

“Macca’s a player that has had two relegations, one with us and one with Wimbledon. When he goes on and plays like that, you can see why – it’s mindless decisions out there that cost the team. If you do that, you won’t play in my team because we can’t have that.

“I get you’re disappointed you’re not starting, but when you go on and play like that, it’s self-evident why you’re not starting. He needs to get his head together and his act together, or he won’t be at this football club much longer.”