Following a third successive 1-0 defeat, this time to MK Dons, Bristol Rovers have an important week on the horizon, with three home games in eight days offering an opportunity to drag them away from danger. Crucially, the first of those three is Newport County – 22nd vs 23rd after both sides lost midweek – […]
Following a third successive 1-0 defeat, this time to MK Dons, Bristol Rovers have an important week on the horizon, with three home games in eight days offering an opportunity to drag them away from danger.
Crucially, the first of those three is Newport County – 22nd vs 23rd after both sides lost midweek – where a loss would drag the Gas into the bottom two for the second time this season, with the first being Darrell Clarke last game against Swindon Town.
The subsequent fixtures against Walsall and Chesterfield will be no easy feat, but Rovers must begin to pick up points or risk being in for a very uncomfortable end to the season with double-relegation a devastating possibility.
Steve Evans replaced Clarke in mid-December and immediately stopped the rot with a 1-1 draw in Crewe, after setting an unwanted club record of 10 successive defeats.
In the following game, the Gas were 2-0 up to high flying Bromley courtesy of Jack Sparkes and Fabrizio Cavegn, but ended up squandering all three points with Shaq Forde’s 53rd minute red card proving game changing, leading to the Ravens winning it in injury time.
A flat 2-0 home defeat to Barnet Town was next, meaning for a disappointing Christmas yield. 2026 got off to the best possible start with a 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Shrewsbury Town, but consecutive 1-0 losses to Colchester United, Salford City, and now MK Dons have made that appear the anomaly.
In between, a thrilling 4-3 EFL Trophy loss to League One side Plymouth Argyle was disappointing, but seemed to give plenty of positives, besides some lax defending.
Rovers have, in moments, played with a much better tempo than under Clarke, and much less aerially than some believed for an Evans side. However in recent games Gasheads have noted the somewhat flat displays from their side and a return to using Cavegn as more of a focal point.
As mentioned, Rovers will go into the crucial game against Newport following three consecutive 1-0 defeats – but have played a trio of promotion chasing sides. The result against the Exiles is now pivotal for both teams.
With a 12 day break between New Year’s and the Trophy tie – due to Barrow on the fourth being postponed, Evans got things moving along with his winter dealings: he sent back all five of Clarke’s loanees, including Alfie Chang, Joel Cotterill, Kacper Lopata, Freddie Issaka, and Stephan Negru.
He also recalled Isaac Hutchinson from his productive loan spell at Cheltenham Town, bringing back some midfield drive to the Gas roster.
Since then, six bodies have come through the door: defenders Kofi Balmer (loan) and Riley Harbottle, midfielders Ryan de Havilland and Kane Thompson-Sommers (loan), winger Yusuf Akhamrich (loan), and most recently striker Mees Rijks – who made his debut on Tuesday after signing in the day.
It’s now also expected that a short-term deal will be agreed for Evans to reunite with 32-year-old defender Sean Raggett, after the centre back was released from Rotherham United recently.
That move would be incredibly well received by supporters who have expected Evans to recruit a more experienced calibre of player, given their manager’s comments early into his tenure and his reasoning for sending back the existing loanees being based on their lack of know-how, and further sure up the defence.
As it’s played out, all of Rovers’ recruits so far have been under 26, leading to the Scot noting post-Salford that, “It’s not been designed that we say we’re going to get them younger.
“It’s difficult to get good players that will really improve us. I know it sounds a bit strange, but it is. And ideally as well, we want players that come in who’s had game time.”
The expectation is for Raggett to not be the last of the January business; Gasheads would greatly value another experienced head too, considering the predicament their side finds itself in – just a point above the drop zone with the must-win Newport game upcoming…
