Jack Sparkes was pleased Bristol Rovers ended their ten-game losing run in Sky Bet League Two with a 1-1 draw against Crewe Alexandra on Friday night, but was disappointed his side could not turn one point into three after a positive away performance.
The Pirates were looking to make a bright start under new Head Coach Steve Evans and created a chance in the opening two minutes through Fabrizio Cavegn before falling behind through Emre Tezget’s goal. However, the Gas did not stay behind for long, with Callum Morton levelling only three minutes later.
The Gas had the momentum and a man advantage after Adrien Thibaut’s red card, but could not find a winner, with Luke Thomas seeing his one-on-one strike saved before Kamil Conteh thumped the post with a low strike.
Reflecting on the contest with BRTV, Sparkes was left frustrated that Rovers could not come away with a victory, but took the positives from an entertaining contest.
“It’s disappointing, he said. “In the first half, we were good but still conceded a few chances, but on the whole, we were good. In the second half, we came out and didn’t have the control of the game that we wanted. It’s a point in the right direction, I think the fans will see what we were giving it at the end there, and especially throughout the game. So, disappointing, but we’ll go again.”
He later added: “It was important that we bounced back and we definitely did that with the performance today, and there’s more to come.”
After going behind away from home against a Crewe side playing with plenty of confidence after beating Tranmere Rovers 4-1 in their last outing, it was important that Rovers found a way back into the contest quickly. Evans brought Morton in for his first start in blue-and-white quarters, and his decision came off, with the 25-year-old racing onto a long ball from Alfie Kilgour before finishing.
The tide turned in Rovers’ favour before Thibaut saw red for the hosts, with Sparkes suggesting his side had to alter their style to try and find a second goal.
“We obviously had the game plan,” said Sparkes. “It doesn’t go out the window, but when they go down to ten men, they’re sitting a little bit deeper. We’ve had it before and it’s a lot tougher; they’re a lower block and we’re trying to break them down, which is obviously difficult. So, we’re pushing for it and had chances, especially at the end there with a few unlucky defections that could’ve gone in either way. At least we are creating the chances, and the goals will come.”
Hundreds of Gasheads made their way down to Crewe on Friday night and made themselves known in Rovers’ final away fixture of 2025. They got behind the team for the entire contest, with Sparkes thrilled with their support.
“It was amazing and unbelievable,” said the left-back. “We said before the game in the huddle just after the warm-up, ‘give these gas heads a good night and to remember’. Unfortunately, we didn’tquite get the win but, hopefully they can see the positives with the performance.”
The Christmas period is always one of the busiest times of the year in football, with the Gas welcoming Bromley and Barnet to The Memorial Stadium before back-to-back away trips to Shrewsbury Town and Barnet. Playing four times in quick succession, Sparkes sees it as an opportunity to build momentum.
“We were just saying in there that we’ve got four games in the space of ten or 12 days,” he said. “It is so important we bounce back and get some momentum, and it's huge, so who knows where it could take us.”
