Steve Evans wants to return to Wembley with Bristol Rovers but knows the size of the task Bristol Rovers have ahead of them on Tuesday night in the Vertu Trophy.
The Pirates are looking to reach the final eight of the competition and face Sky Bet League One side Plymouth Argyle in midweek. The Pilgrims have had an upturn in form in recent weeks and have pushed up the table after four wins in seven league fixtures, but the Gas will also come into the contest with confidence.
Rovers beat Shrewsbury Town 3-0 in their opening fixture of 2026 and will take belief out of their 1-0 triumph over Argyle in their final group stage game in the Vertu Trophy this term, with Kamil Conteh netting a late winner.
Speaking to the media before the home fixture against Plymouth, Evans reflected on the break between fixtures and the transfer window before discussing the upcoming test.
THE BREAK SINCE THE SHREWSBURY VICTORY
“Well, we’ve been working hard, the players have been in as well, so that’s been good. Obviously, the administration side that we had to deal with, the loan boys going back, and a couple of players coming into the building as well, and lots of talks going on with others. So, it’s been a really busy period since Shrewsbury.”
SENDING LOAN PLAYERS TO THEIR PARENT CLUBS
“Yeah, I had second thoughts about three or four of them. But the conclusion at the end of it was to give us a fresh approach. You’re second or third at the bottom of the football league for a reason, and the reason is you’re not good enough.
“But it’s been really supportive from above, and I’m sure that we’ll replace those loans or if not, improve the squad, because that was the aim.
“In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have had five loans. It may get towards that number very late in the day if we’re just making sure the group is secure in every position to see through the last number of months in the season.”
KOFI BALMER
“Kofi, first and foremost, is a hard-nosed defender. A Northern Irish boy from a real tough upbringing like I’ve had in Glasgow. He knows how to defend, he can defend properly, he’s brilliant in the group.
"I first came across Kofi when he was at Crystal Palace as a young player, and went to Wimbledon and was very, very good at Wimbledon, and no better references came from than the captain at Wimbledon, saying, ‘go and sign him?’
“So, obviously, I speak to people up the road as well because he’s not been in every week at Motherwell, but they had a terrific season. So, we’ve had the opportunity to bring a good defender into the football club.”
LOOKING TO ADD TO THE SQUAD
“We are working so hard. It’s certainly not for being proactive in our front, but normally, like when we signed Ryan de Havilland, and we signed Kofi, both had other options to consider.
“So, it’s not just a case of you phoning up a club, and you get someone to agree, and then you can speak to them, and then they’re signed. The better ones have options. We had that with Kofi; we had to be a little bit patient. We certainly had to be patient with Ryan.
“That will continue as we go forward. So, we’ve had discussions with some; some have been in the building and having chats. Some will come back in the building, and we’ll try to add to the group. We have to add to the group, but it can't just be any player. It has to be the right player, and the approach is different this time."
ISAAC HUTCHINSON
“Well, he’s certainly come into my plans because I’ve brought him back into the building because the easy option for me was just to keep him at Cheltenham. That was the easy option.
“But you have to make what I consider to be the best option for Bristol Rovers Football Club. Nothing to do with Cheltenham or anyone else, we have to do what’s best for the football club, and Isaac, in my meetings with him, wanted to do what is best for his career.
“With Isaac, you need to be going forward and creating chances, and perhaps earlier in the season, when he was around the group, that wasn’t happening. Our aim is to make sure that he’s enjoying his football here, that’s the number one, and if he’s enjoying his football, he’ll help create and score goals.”
PLYMOUTH PREVIEW
“It’ll certainly be different to Shrewsbury. It’ll be a different team. It may be a different shape. We’ve got a couple of alternatives. We’ve had a week to do that, obviously, with no game at the weekend, but we were back in, the boys were in on Sunday again, and Monday.
“I think they are thoroughly enjoying it; they’ll certainly learn from it. We know that whatever team Plymouth picks, it’s a group blessed with top-end League One and Championship players. That’s the size and the model of the club, and we’re going to try and compete to progress in the tournament.
“To get to Wembley, we have to win tomorrow, don’t we? And that’s just a fact. It’s a competition that if we do well tomorrow, we could be in the last eight.
“So, all of a sudden, you’re thinking ‘Wembley doesn’t seem so far away’. Being a head coach that wins at Wembley, I’d quite like to go back.”
