Rovers set a new club record in beating Exeter at The Mem, to make it 11 home league wins on the bounce.
The three points were achieved an Exeter side managed by former Rovers boss Matt Taylor who set his side up just as he had done many times during his 12 month stint at The Mem.In all honesty they were never going to score – they came with a point and were happy to defend that for long periods of the game.
Yes, they kept possession well at the back and in the middle of the park, but lacked a cutting edge up front and they looked like relegation candidates on this showing.
Rovers Manager Steve Evans made three changes for this West Country clash, leaving our Ben Purrington, Bobby Kamwa and Jack Aitchison in favour of returning skipper Alfie Kilgour, who was making his first start of the season, Jack Sparkes and Fabrizio Cavegn.
Rovers were definitely the brighter of the two sides from the off and former Exeter defender Sparkes proved to be a thorn in their side as he marauded down the left flank at will. However, in spite of a number of quality crosses into the box no one could take advantage.
Shaq Forde might have given Rovers a first half lead but, when played in by Ellis Harrison, he hit a right foot shot straight at goalkeeper Jack Bycroft. Harrison then missed a chance himself when he scuffed an effort straight to the keeper following good work by Cavegn. There was another opportunity for Forde before the break, but on this occasion he was denied by Bycroft.
As for the visitors, they seldom threatened in the opening 45 minutes though Ethan Sutherland did force a save from Brad Young and the same player hit another effort wide of the target.
The opening period of the second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Rovers finding it difficult to break down a stubborn Exeter side who got men behind the ball at every opportunity.
The breakthrough came with 66 minutes on the clock when Kofi Balmer’s long throw found its way back to him and his subsequent cross was flicked on by Kilgour to Cavegn who netted with an acrobatic overhead kick.
Almost immediately there was a second goal, but Sparkes was denied by the post and substitute Reiss Russell-Denny almost scored his first Rovers goal with a stunning left foot drive that Bycroft just about managed to turn around the post.
The visitors huffed and puffed and while there were a few anxious moments at the back for Rovers, they weathered the brief storm and might have scored again just before the final whistle but Bycroft produced a stunning save from Bobby Kamwa.
WHAT WAS SAID
‘The game is a game where I felt we were always in control. They’re always going to have an odd half chance because they play on the counter. It’s a typical Matty Taylor team that’s gritty and determined. They
play with six, seven, eight players behind the ball, and they’re relying on the likes of Rose, Gordon and Reece Cole to do that a little bit of individual quality. But I think our boys had some big performances today and there were some big characters today. Jack Sparkes has not been near the team, but he’s been fighting for fitness. We’ve never discussed it, but he gets back in. I thought he was very good today. That’s not anything on Ben Purrington, who has been good for us. And of course, we had our skipper back in today. Alfie’s been fighting to get that fitness and the double hernia operation.
‘You only need to look at the group that’s in the dressing room. You know, they have their faults, and they have their weaknesses. We have our complaints about them, as they do about us, but we’re here without some big players today. You’re here without Tommy Leigh, you’re here without Riley Harbottle, you’re here without Jack Aitchison. You’ve got Macaulay Southam-Hales, and Ryan de Havilland back at the training ground. Everybody will play a part and will do their bit. That’s why we’re really pleased today with the performance of the skipper and the performance of Jack Sparkes.
‘It’s been a fantastic day. It’s been a difficult week internally, as we just explained some of the bits, but we’re a real family at the headquarters. Our chairman gives us every opportunity. We prepare properly. I’m just so pleased for every Gashead in the stadium today that have seen their club make history, you think, since 1883. All the supporters that have been at the various stadiums our football club has played at, and everyone that’s been here today, have seen a team win 11 consecutive home league games, unprecedented in any football, in any league in the world. Go and find out the last time Barcelona did that. Rovers Manager Steve Evans
‘It’s absolutely amazing. Obviously, we had the incentive before the game, and it took everyone to put it into action and get the job done. I’m very proud of all the lads and glad we could be a part of history and give the fans what they deserved. It feels like a lifetime ago since the start of the winning run. Consistency, grinding out the wins, and today it was mentioned about the record and how we had to get the job done. A clean sheet, a great goal from Fab, and a great day. I’m incredibly proud on a personal note to have captained the side and be a part of it, in terms of making history and being out there.
‘I did my best and did my job, along with every single player and every single lad that came on and was ready to come on. It’s not just me, it takes everybody, but I missed it, so it was good to be out there and back. Going to war at 3.00pm on a Saturday is what I live for, so it’s good to be back out there.
‘Brad, behind us, didn’t shut up all game. Ciarán and Kofi were absolutely superb. We complimented each other very well, we worked together, we were all vocal, we all kept each other switched on. Jack Sparkes was back in as well – a brilliant shift from him and Tom James at right wing back. Richie, Clint and the shift from everybody at the front with pressing – don’t get me wrong, at some points it wasn’t pretty, but we’ve come off the pitch with three points, a clean sheet and a 1-0 win. No qualms, good efforts, big efforts. Time to rest up, go again next week and start preparing right.’ Rovers Skipper Alfie Kilgour
‘I’m massively frustrated. We were more than in the game. The stress we put ourselves under with our lack of guile, quality and decision making in the opposition half with the ball has hurt us. We controlled large parts of the game with the ball to a certain point but haven’t worked their box or their goalkeeper.
‘We defended our box well, we got hold of the ball, we progressed the ball, but then you were left wanting more. It’s inexperience, I understand that, and the pressure of the game really does tell. We’re playing stressed at the moment.
‘I still believe there’s still so much more to come with the ball and so much more in terms of our chance creation and our goal output.’ Exeter Boss Matt Taylor
