Walsall 1-2 Bristol Rovers
Sky Bet League Two, Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, Saturday 4 October 2025
Bristol Rovers' seven-match unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two ended with a 2-1 loss to Walsall at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium.
The Pirates were by far the better team in the first half and struck the opener through Fabrizio Cavegn's fine finish into the bottom corner, but could not build on their lead after the break.
The Saddlers made two changes to their midfield and gained control before netting twice in nine minutes to turn the score around. Aaron Pressley headed in Vincent Harper's clever cross from the left before slipping the ball under Luke Southwood for his second.
Darrell Clarke made late changes to try and turn the score around, with Ollie Dewsbury and Freddie Issaka coming on, but Walsall left with all three points.
As soon as the starting whistle sounded, the Gas grasped their first opportunity. The ball ricocheted off of Bryant Bilongo’s head, towards Cavegn, but his low drive from close range went just past the post.
The Swiss striker then turned creator soon after, skipping through a couple of challenges before slotting a pass through to Bilongo, who made his way down the left side of the box before blasting an effort at Myles Roberts.
The Gas continued to control possession within the first ten minutes, with an opportunistic Cavegn sprinting towards the goal and passing to Ellis Harrison, before being denied by the Saddlers’ defence.
Walsall lead the Sky Bet League Two table and took a while before having their first clear opportunity. Charlie Lakin lifted a cross into Aden Flint, who powered his header over the bar.
Cavegn then drilled in the opener soon after. Bilongo, who was making his first start of the season in an advanced position down the left, rushed forward before pulling the ball back to Harrison, who tapped the ball across to his strike partner to score.
Chances were few and far between before the end of the first half, with Saddlers' head coach Mathew John Sadler switching things around at the break. Courtney Clarke and Brandon Comley were added to the mix, with Walsall immediately gaining control.
Connor Barrett had a shot from the middle of the box that was blocked, and Courtney Clarke blasted over from range. Josh McEachran was then forced off for the Pirates, with the hosts gaining the lead three minutes later. Harper's cross from the left was met by Pressley, who directed his header into the bottom corner.
The physical forward then netted again to turn the score in Walsall's favour. Barrett poked the ball through to the attacker, who finished clinically for his fourth goal of the campaign. Darrell Clarke made attacking changes, but Rovers could not find a way to test Walsall's goal, with the league leaders defending valiantly to claim all three points.
After losing for the first time in eight matches in all competitions, the Gas return to action on Tuesday in the Vertu Trophy against Cheltenham Town, looking to bounce back immediately.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Sparkes, Kilgour ©, Thomas (Dewsbury, 87), Harrison (Issaka, 86), McEachran (Conteh, 67), Southam-Hales, Chang, Bilongo (Sotiriou, 77), Cavegn, Łopata
Subs not used: Senior, Moore, Mola, Sotiriou, Issaka, Dewsbury
Goals: Cavegn 27’
Booked: Chang, Harrison, Sparkes
Walsall: Roberts, Barrett, Flint ©, Burke (Farquharson, 57), Lakin (Jellis, 65), Kanu (Adomah, 75), Harper, Pressley, Warrington (Comley, 46), Finnigan (Clarke, 46), Weir
Subs not used: Hornby, Matt
Goals: Pressley 69, 78
Booked: Clarke, Weir, Comley
Referee: Stephen Martin
Attendance: 8,003 (2,150 away)
