Steve Evans has called on everyone to stand up after Bristol Rovers lost 1-0 to Shrewsbury Town in Sky Bet League Two.
In a fixture where chances were few and far between, George Lloyd scored the decisive goal in the second half from the penalty spot after Joe Quigley brought Will Boyle down in the box.
Jay Turner-Cooke and Isaac Fletcher were sent off for the Shrews in the closing stages, but Salop held on for their fourth win of the season, ending a six-game winless run against the Pirates in the process.
As for the Gas, after an electric start to the 2026/27 season, they have now lost five of their previous six league matches. Speaking to the media after the game, Evans reflected on the performance and the moment that changed the game.
REFLECTIONS ON THE GAME
“I think the game was a poor game even by League Two standards. It was two teams that were battling; they're battling for a win, we're battling for an away win. I think we just looked off in the first half; we made some changes. I think we're the better team in the second half without making chances, but we commanded a bit more of the ball, kept more of the ball.
“We never made the goalkeeper make a save really until Fabrizio Cavegn had an effort which he probably should have scored. It's a clear strike at goal. Other than that, we huffed, and we puffed."
MISSING PLAYERS
“Well, we're struggling in terms of our personnel, aren't we? We couldn't get Ellis Harrison on the pitch today because he was feeling his foot after Saturday and then again yesterday in training. We travelled and put him on the bench, hoping that medically the guys could get him ready to go on the pitch. But I asked him throughout the game, and he still said he was feeling sore in the warm-up, so that rules that out.
“We're missing some seriously big players, but in saying that, we've still got enough good players out there to be winning these types of games. You can't turn up and, if six or seven lads are not playing anywhere near the potential of what they can deliver, we've seen when you do that, you lose.”
SALFORD CITY PREVIEW
“We play what many people say is the big team in the league. They're certainly the big spenders. Everyone talks about the quality they've got. We're going to be fully tested, aren't we?
“But we're in this situation where we need to put our best 11 on the pitch and ask our supporters to be the 12th man. I thought they were great today. I thought they were right behind us even when we went one down.”
NEED FOR LEADERS IN THE SQUAD
“We need everyone to stand up. I, the staff, because we're not doing our jobs ultimately if that's the situation, are we? We need our supporters to stand up and be with us. That's why they're called supporters.
“You see a few of them there having a pop at one or two of the lads. Yeah, the performances away from home have been poor, but listen, it's a long season, and you're never as successful if you're going to divide.”
CIARÁN KELLY INJURY
“Cramp, cramp. So, it's just another one that we had to bring off the pitch. You can see how stretched we are then. Like I yesterday, with injuries, then you lose Ellis and him feeling his foot yesterday and today, and then you're losing Ciarán. They're all big players and if you lose your big players, you end up playing with players that are not going to be winning you lots of points in this league."
