THE GAME
Rovers just failed to extend their winning run in the final game of the season, against Notts County at Meadow Lane.
They came close, but in a game of two halves they had to settle for a point from a 1-1 draw and end a chaotic campaign in 14th place.
Steve Evans made just the one change to his starting XI, bringing in Ryan de Havilland for Yusuf Akhamrich but his side struggled to make an impact on promotion contenders County for much of the opening 45 minutes.
The home side enjoyed a great deal of possession and threatened Brad Young’s goal on a number of occasions in the opening 25 minutes of the half. The shot stopper saved well from Jayden Luker after his defenders had blocked two on target efforts and there was another save from Nick Tsaroulla before the Bristol born player gave his side a 27th minute lead.
When a cross came in from the left Alassana Jatta’s header was blocked by Clinton Mola but the rebound fell to Tsaroulla who drilled a shot past Young.
Shaq Forde, who had seen a shot well saved by former Rovers goalkeeper James Belshaw before the goal, had an opportunity to equalise before the break but once again he was denied by the keeper, who saved with his legs.
Young did well to save another County effort, from Luker, and Jacob Bedeau headed wide, but the half ended with a goalscoring opportunity for Rovers after Joel Senior found Ellis Harrison in space out on the right. The striker drilled the ball across the area, finding Promise Omochere who got a shot away, though it carried little power and was comfortably dealt with by Belshaw.
The hosts saw Young save well from Jatta at the start of the second half, but gradually Rovers began to assert themselves on the game and Forde dragged a shot wide of the upright before the equaliser arrived.
A superb crossfield ball from Tommy Leigh picked put Harrison who brought it down on his chest before striking a powerful angled drive with his left foot which went through Belshaw’s legs and into the net.
Akhamrich rolled a shot wide of the target when well placed and a shot from Ryan Howley was blocked as Rovers looked to gain a ninth straight win, but they could find no way through a strong County defence.
In fact, there was a let off as the game drew to a close as Tom Iorpenda effort hit the post and rebounded to Bedeau who slotted the ball home. However, his effort was ruled out as he had been in an offside position.
Fabrizio Cavegn saw his effort blocked as the game moved into time added on but, overall, a draw seemed to be a fair result and while County head into the end of season play offs, Rovers will have a summer to regroup and hope that they will mount a promotion challenge of their own in 2026/27.
WHAT WAS SAID
‘It was two really good teams, wasn’t it? We knew we were coming into a pressured environment, big home support and big travelling support. Thank you to every Gashead who came to Notts County to get behind us today, and they made it a brilliant atmosphere with both sets of supporters. So we came against a team who, for me, are one of the better teams in the league when you break it all down, technicians, got strength, got height, got power. I thought the first half was a little bit scrappy. I don’t think that we had enough dominance in the middle of the park, and we gave away a sloppy goal because we cleared our lines and we didn’t secure the ball, and we conceded sloppily, but we always had a plan to change it, probably not as early as half time, to be honest.
‘But I have never been one to sit and mess my lines up; if it is going to be changed, it has to be done. So, we changed it, and I think that the second half, all bar counter attacks from Notts County, we were the dominant side. Over the course of the 90, and memory tells me, you always look back and say, ‘were we fortunate to be unfortunate’ Just based on clear and simple chances, we were unfortunate because we could have scored four or five today with clear one on one chances against the goalkeeper. I think that we didn’t hit the target enough, and another one we put cheaply into the goalie’s legs.
‘Listen, what I remember for the goal is probably one of the passes of the season from Tommy Leigh, it was just a fantastic pass, but Ellis has to cushion that properly on the run and drill it with precision. Now you’ve seen this a few times, Yusuf, Shaq and that, they did not get the precision and didn’t get the accuracy in their sights, and Ellis did, and he drove it into the far corner and then after, there is one team unfortunate not to win it.’ Rovers Manager Steve Evans
‘I think we knew, obviously, the quality of their team. It wasn’t going to be an easy game. So, to come out and take a point on the last day and perform how we did in that second half. Yeah, we can definitely be happy with that. I think the second half, and first half, we had chances, but I think definitely in the second half, we were the much better team and probably should have come away with three points.
‘Notts County are a great club. It’s a great setup. The style they like to play. It’s hard to play against. So, if you get it wrong and you’re just a little bit late to certain situations, they definitely punish you. I think they did that a lot in the first half, but the character from ourselves to put it right in the second half and dominate shows a lot. I think the second half, and first half, we had chances, but I think definitely in the second half, we were the much better team and probably should have come away with three points.
‘I don’t want to make Tommy’s head any bigger, but he definitely did really well. Yusuf as well. I thought Joel Senior was the best player on the pitch by a mile today. He’s absolutely outstanding. The quality, you look; we’ve got Joe Quigley. If you’re a defender and you start with Ellis and Promise, and then you see Fabrizio Cavegn and Quigs coming on. Jesus! All the best.’ Rovers defender Riley Harbottle
‘We had so many chances in the first half, so many entries into their box. But we didn’t take them, so that’s a lesson for us . We’ve got to be better in those moments.
‘Let’s put some context to it. Bristol Rovers are a massive spending team in this division, and they’ve been on an eight match winning streak, so they’re no mugs.
‘But I just thought we did enough in the first 45 minutes to put them to bed. So that’s a positive. The next bit comes with how we deal when things get a bit messy, and I’ll deal with that this week, and we’ll be ready to go at Chesterfield.’ Notts County Boss Martin Paterson
