Bristol Rovers manager Paul Trollope felt that his side earned themselves a well deserved point at Boundary Park.

"It's come after a disappointing, and poor, performance against Southampton last week and I have seen a reaction to that from the players, both in training during the week, and in the game today.

"It was an up and down game where both sides enjoyed spells when they were on top, but to show the spirit and togetherness that we did, with ten men, we are happy to be going home with a point.

"The early goal was important for us. We've not had the start to the season we wanted, but we feel that we brought some good players in over the summer, but we have taken a couple of heavy defeats, which is not what you need in the early part of the season.

"Confidence isn't sky high at the moment but after a game like the one we had last week, we weren't going to be at our cohesive and flowing best but we did want to see some improvement especially going forward and I think that was in evidence."

His side were on top in the opening stages of the game.

"In the first 25 minutes of the game we produced some good football and Will Hoskins scored a good goal , which gave us a boost, and in the end we saw some spirited defending.

"In spite of being under pressure early in the second half, we defended well to limit them to very few chances. Goalkeeper Mike Green, on his league debut, performed well but I think the only really good save he had to make was from a free kick in the opening period and we protected him well.

"It was a shame that we were reduced to ten men, because we felt that had grown into the half and turned the tide a little bit midway through and created some chances that, on another day, might have won us the game."

There was praise for striker Will Hoskins, who might well have ended the game with four goals.

"He's shown his quality since he joined us, and he was frustrated that he didn't score in pre season, but that's two he's got in the league now and I think that everyone sees the quality of his link play.

"It was probably a little bit untidy by his standards in the first half, but when we brought John Akinde on it gave us a different outlet and allowed Will a bit more space and the keeper denied him twice and the crossbar on another occasion.

"The important thing for a striker is confidence and Will has that and is now playing football on a regular basis, something he hasn't done for a couple of years and we feel that he's going to be a big player for us."

The manager thought that the sending off was a fair decision, but was mystified as to why there were eight added minutes at the end of the second half.

"I think Danny appeared to get caught square with the long ball forward. I think there was a quick transition when the ball came over the top and there are no complaints about the decision.

"As for the time added on, I commented, to the fourth official, that I've never seen a game with that much time added and I think it went on a little bit longer than that as well as there were a couple of booking in that period.  When you are down to ten men and playing away from home it's not really what you want!"

With Coles facing a one match suspension next week, the manager has a ready made replacement in James Tunnicliffe, who was left on the bench today.

"James was unfortunate not to start today but he missed quite a few bits of pre season and only had two games because we didn't sign him until midway through pre season and then he suffered an ankle injury. We felt that, in our early games, that his fitness wasn't quite what it should have been and so we worked him hard last week and he did very well. He also did well when he went on today so we have the man to replace Danny next week."

Whilst it was pleasing to go home with a point, the manager had set his sights on obtaining all three.

"We came here with the intention of winning the game, no question about that, and I think you could see that by the way we started the game. What I was looking for, though, was a hunger and drive about the group, and the ability to defend with a discipline and an intensity, which we saw.

"I also wanted to see us trying to pass from the back and link through midfield areas and we did that as well, especially in the opening 25 minutes and for a spell in the second half. It's been a big step forward today and I was proud of the players' efforts and spirit, especially when we went down to ten men."

Goalkeeper Mike Green, who has waited a long time to make his league debut, can be pleased with his performance this afternoon.

"It would have been great for him to keep a clean sheet but we came unstuck just before half time by a good free kick. It was clever play and we had issues within the defensive structure but it was a good finish.

"It was a pleasing debut for Mike Green in spite of the fact that he suffered a little bit of cramp in the second half and he can be proud of his performance and he's shown that he's capable at this level."