Steve Evans believes Bristol Rovers should have beaten ten-man Crewe Alexandra but took the positives from the Gas' point on the road.
The 63-year-old was in Rovers' dugout for the first time since joining as the new Head Coach in the week and was looking to end the Pirates' difficult run of form in Sky Bet League Two.
The test was made even more challenging when Emre Tezgel broke the deadlock for the Railywaymen. However, the Gas responded almost immediately when Callum Morton netted his first goal for the Club before Adrien Thibaut was sent off for Crewe.
Nevertheless, the Pirates could not find a winner despite creating chances to win it after the break. Speaking to BRTV after the fixture, Evans reflected on the contest and was pleased with the character his side showed after falling behind.
Steve, a point on the road in your first game. How do you reflect on that?
“I think we started OK. We started reasonably bright and put them under a little bit of pressure, not too much, but a little bit of pressure, and we seemed to control proceedings, but then we gave away a silly goal.
“I think it’s a trait that has been there, but we gave away a silly goal, and I spoke to the players long and hard about adversity in football. You can be on top in the game and concede, then you need to get back into it. So, Callum has got an opportunist goal, he takes advantage of a defensive mix-up and scores, and then I think we are really good until half-time. We should have been in front; there were a number of crosses from both sides of the pitch into the box, and we controlled the middle of the park.
“We went in at half-time and encouraged that to continue and encouraged other players to get forward, and I think in the second half, we lost our way for about ten or 15 minutes. They seemed to gaincontrol of the middle of the park, and the one thing that you have got with this Crewe side is that they are technically really good under a good, young manager.
“They controlled it, so we changed our shape, and that turned the game back in our favour. We’re unlucky, Kamil Conteh hits the post, and then on another day, Luke Thomas has two, possibly three. Particularly, the first one is a big, big chance. He has apologised to the boys, and I said they are there to be scored and they are there to be missed.
“Then, I think it is a compliment to us that, probably from 81 or 82 minutes, Lee Bell is screaming for three minutes to be added on and not six and then is screaming during that in a positive way behind his team to get a point.to get a point. We don’t hide the fact that we’ve played a lot of the game against ten men and should have gone on to win the game. I see it as a point and a starting point, but I also see it as we’ve left two points in Crewe.”
You mentioned that bright start and the early goal conceded. How important was it to get straight back in it immediately?
“We spoke to the boys about the character. I think that they felt that maybe in the past, when they conceded a goal, that it would be it. We said that we run and we work and we fight and we scrap, and if they break and score the second, these things can happen, but I would rather fight and scrap and get back into a game, and we did.
“I thought the reaction was brilliant. Some of the boys on the bench and members of staff were saying ‘that’s a reaction’ and they were right to say it. It was a great reaction, and that led us to dominate for most of the first half.
“The Crewe crowd here were brilliant. There were over 9000 here tonight, but the only ones you could hear were the Bristol Rovers supporters, particularly in the first half and when we missed the big chances in the second half, because they are big chances at this level."
Is this the only disappointment that you did not come away with the three points?
“If we had got the three points here tonight, I would have walked home. I would have left my car in Crewe and taken the train for it tomorrow. I would have been that happy. I think Josh McEachran summed it up when I was asking individuals at the end of the game when we sat down quietly, and Josh said, ‘I’m so frustrated because that’s the most chances we have created in one game in a long time’.
"We didn’t take them, and normally, I see Luke Thomas score against my teams by passing it into the bottom corner, and it’s not just Luke; Callum had two or three shots that were blocked near the goal, and Kamil hit the post. We had two or three crosses in, and tactically, we still didn’t quite get it right. We have been working on that for a couple of days, but it takes more than two sessions."
Finally, how good was it for you to be back in the dugout?
“It’s fantastic to walk out of the tunnel, and the Bristol Rovers fans sang my name. I’ve not heard that for a while, other than my two grandsons, who sing it anyway, but that was great. Heading into the 96th minute, my real thoughts were to try and win the game, but not lose it.
“These supporters have suffered for a long time, but we’ve got a point. We’re not getting carried away with this, we’re back on the training ground, and we’re back working hard, and we’ll get ready for a really tough game on Boxing Day.”
