Bristol Rovers made a stunning start to 2026 with a thumping 3-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town, with Head Coach Steve Evans delighted by the Gas' performance all over the pitch.
After a first half with very few chances, Fabrizio Cavegn led a stellar Rovers display after the break. The 23-year-old made the most of a defensive mistake to give the Pirates the lead from close range before getting onto the end of two low crosses from the right to strike twice more and complete his hat-trick.
It was the perfect way for Evans to get his first win as Head Coach of Rovers, with his attackers linking up well in the final third and the defence keeping their first league clean sheet since beating Grimsby Town in August.
Speaking to BRTV after the fixture, Evans reflected on the performance and highlighted Cavegn's brilliance.
Steve, a Happy New Year to you and what a way to celebrate!
“I thought we were really good, I thought we were bright in the first half. I think there’s a clear penalty kick, that the referee’s given the penalty, assistant judges it offside, he’s clearly onside when we look back at the footage on the bench. But you know, he’s called it wrong, but I said to the boys at half-time, these kinds of things have gone against us, but we need to display a fight and an energy level and if we get the first goal, then we’ll get more and when we get the first goal.
“Chuks Aneke comes on, the last time he came on against me, he scored a wonder goal at Charlton to equalise in the last seconds for them. Then we got the second goal in, and I thought they were really good. I can’t even name just Fab as the man of the match because I think there were seriously other contenders.
“But quite rightfully, that young man worked so hard for us, so hard for the team, and I maintain, before I came in because I knew of him, if we make chances, he’ll score a goal, and I’m really pleased for the boys. More importantly, I’m pleased for the supporters. Those who had come and those who didn’t come. A lot have lost belief. I’d have probably lost belief.
“We’ve just got to take this and not get carried away. We're back in tomorrow and do some more good work ahead of Barrow because obviously there will be some tired bodies now, but they won’t be tired after a couple of days.”
Fab’s three goals will get the headlines, but as you say, boss, his all-round work today was just exceptional. Holding the ball up, running the channels, he just didn’t stop.
“I think he did it in the home game against Bromley. I thought he was outstanding, and then the legs are going to run off of him because he's playing with ten men for a long time. But I think there was a young man who wanted to bounce back and prove that he made an error, and he was really sorry for it, and it was young Shaq Forde. I thought he was, in the second half, he was a real outlet.
“He was really pacey, and I just heard Fab say in the dressing room, ‘Shaq, what a performance’, and he was crying in my office. So, from crying in my office, he was smiling today.”
Obvious question, but how big for confidence is a clean sheet today?
“I think the clean sheets were important. In an ideal world, we didn't want to have to put Ellis Harrison on the bench today. He’s fit. He’s trained for a few days now, but we had him on the bench in case we needed a goal, and we didn’t need the goal, but the staff reminded me how important it was for confidence for a clean sheet.
“For Luke and the back boys, and we knew when they’ve got a set play to defend, putting Ellis in there, and he’s monumental in both boxes. So we put him on, and that’s a plus for us, but really, the boys who produced the performance from the start, I thought it was bright and energetic.
“You could see the fans clap the players off at half-time and not often 0-0 away at half time do you get that. But they believed that they were watching a solid away performance here. I think the second half was solid, it was strong, we played some great football, and the goals will be a joy to watch.”
You mentioned the fans; they were superb all afternoon. How much did you enjoy your moment at the end there with them?
“They’re fantastic moments, aren’t they? When Paul and Alfie Kilgour, the skipper, said, ‘Gaffer, go to them.’ I would have gone anyway. That’s the moment that, when I speak to the family later, I’ll say Emirates business class to the Maldives doesn’t beat going to the Gas fans today.
“I was absolutely on the floor and devastated after Barnet, but we did play well. So you normally get what performances bring. Our performance today was good all over the pitch, good individual performances, some really good individual performances and what you get from that is good wins."
First win for yourself as Bristol Rovers manager. How important is it for you and the team to build on this going to Barrow?
“I think so. We know Barrow is a different opposition, it’s a different proposition. It’ll be a different shape from us, probably different personnel. Obviously, Ellis comes into consideration now because he’ll get a couple more sessions of training. We’re back in tomorrow, and the one thing that doesn’t get recognised here is that the facilities at Bristol Rovers are Championship-class.
“So, we get the chance to recover the boys, and the water and the saunas and the rubbing and the staff working really hard, and we were telling these boys to be ready for Barrow, and then we’ll come in at Barrow, and we’ve got a lovely break before Plymouth? A lovely break where we’ll try our best, myself, Ricky and the group to add to it.
“This is us strengthening, and they get criticised. I don’t stand in front of fans and criticise boards or managers because they’re entitled to their opinions, but I think they should have seen my meeting with the owners when they said we’re going to release more funds. We’re going to help you strengthen it.
“But I knew that because they told me that before I came in, and one thing that DC has said and one thing that every manager who has been here has said is they put their money where their mouth is.
“Thanks to the fans. It’s not forgotten that New Year’s Day, we’ve all forgotten what day of the week it is, I’m sure they’re the same. Certainly, in football you do, but thanks to them. I thought they were loud and proud before kick-off, and I hope that just makes the journey home tonight worthwhile. But we understand that one swallow doesn’t make a summer, but this could be the start of the summer. It’s the start.”
