Evans Defends Bristol Rovers Despite Seventh Loss in Eight Games

Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans defended his team's recent results after a 2-1 defeat to Salford City at Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night, October 20, 2026. The loss marked their seventh defeat in eight matches across all competitions, while Salford extended their unbeaten League Two run to nine games.

According to the match report published by Yahoo Sports, Brendan Wiredu and Daniel Udoh gave Salford a two-goal advantage by halftime. Bristol Rovers improved after the break, but Ellis Harrison missed a penalty before Jack Sparkes scored from a free kick to reduce the deficit.

Despite their defeat, Bristol Rovers recorded more shots on goal and a higher expected goals figure than their opponents. The report put their expected goals at 1.61, compared with 0.64 for Salford, highlighting the difference between the first-half display and the hosts' stronger response after the interval.

Evans attributed the early struggles to his players showing too much respect for the league leaders and allowing them excessive time on the ball.

"Yeah, listen, I think there is no doubt a conversation at half-time reflected how we gave them too much respect as players. We must have been, as a group of players, apprehensive going into the game, because it looked that way to me. It looked as if we were trying to overcover, and when you overcover, you give good players time, and if you give good players time, they'll hurt you.

And the first goal is a fantastic goal - it's a fantastic strike. We should defend slightly better earlier. The second goal, he should never score.

He runs Sparkesy - that can happen, the ball goes into the box. We've got three defenders around their striker, and he gets it in the net, and then I think we come into the game ten minutes before half-time. Shaq should score.

We have the clearest penalty kick ever on Alfie, not given, but I think there's a mandate that we don't get decisions like that." Evans, Bristol Rovers manager, said.

The manager said the team responded more positively as the first half progressed and carried that momentum into the second period. Harrison's missed penalty prevented the hosts from reducing the deficit earlier, although Sparkes later found the net with a free kick.

"And then we said to the boys, play as we played in that last 10, 15 minutes, and the crowd will back us and they'll get behind us, and we're attacking the Thatchers End, and obviously you think you've got the breakthrough with the penalty with Ellis, and I don't think I've seen Ellis take a penalty like that, but he's a brave boy. He stands up every week for us, and he's out there probably 70%, 75% fit - him and Joe tonight. So, they get nothing but plaudits for me, but he stood up, and unfortunately, it didn't go in, but we had the momentum.

Sparkesy has a wonderful free kick, and apart from counter-attacking, when they're breaking, we've almost laid siege to their box, haven't we? Without really making the goalkeeper make a wonder save." Evans said.

Evans also acknowledged the sharp contrast between Bristol Rovers' home performances and their displays away from Memorial Stadium. He said the inconsistency had caused concern among the coaching staff, including Paul and Byron, as they reviewed the team's performances.

"Yeah, it's caused a lot of sleepless nights, for myself, and Paul and Byron. Paul shouldn't be having sleepless nights, as we know, but he has now because we've been speaking at three and four o'clock in the morning. A little WhatsApp and then we're on the phone, and as Paul just said, coming off the pitch to me at the end.

This team is taking some evolvement because we cannot turn up as we've played in the last two or three away games. And fans are entitled to be hurt by those performances, and then I don't think there's a Bristol Rovers fan who leaves The Mem tonight, and doesn't think that for 60 minutes we've been, as we have played here for, since we've come in the door." Evans said.

The manager rejected comparisons between the current run and longer losing streaks, arguing that the team's record needed context because two defeats came in matches in which he fielded reserve players against Wycombe and Chelsea.

"Yeah, but let's not kid ourselves, two of them I played the reserve team at Wycombe and Chelsea. Let's not get carried away with stats. Ten consecutive defeats, getting beat fours and fives and could be tens and eights.

So let's not put ourselves in that category." Evans said.

Bristol Rovers' next fixture is a West Country derby against Swindon Town. According to the report, Swindon moved ahead of Rovers on goal difference after securing a win at Barnet on the same evening.