THE GAME
Rovers unbeaten seven match league record came to an end at The Bescot Stadium as, after taking a first half lead, they conceded twice in the second half and returned home pointless.
Head Coach Darrell Clarke made three changes to his starting lineup, recalling Kacper Lopata, Luke Thomas and giving Bryant Bilongo his first start of the season. The three players to miss out were Taylor Moore,
Clinton Mola and Joel Cotterill.
Clarke’s side began brightly and Fabrizio Cavegn drove a shot just past the upright while Bilongo fired a shot straight at former Rovers loan goalkeeper Myles Roberts.
Rovers certainly dominated possession in the early stages of the game but the home side did create an opportunity for central defender Aiden Flint though he headed over the bar from Charlie Lakin’s cross.
Rovers eventually made their domination pay and took the lead on 27 minutes. Bilongo broke down the left before finding Harrison inside the area. He, in turn, found Cavegn. Even though the striker had his back to goal, he turned sharply before firing past Roberts to register a goal for the fourth successive match.
Rovers were unable to add to their lead, though, and after Walsall had made two changes at the start of the second half, the game turned in their favour.
The equaliser arrived in the 70th minute when Aaron Pressley headed home following a cross from Vincent Harper. The striker added his, and Walsall’s second, with 78 minutes on the clock.
Albert Adomah’s cross from the left evaded everyone but was rescued by Connor Barrett who slipped the ball into Pressley and he slotted home from close range.
Hard as they tried, Rovers were unable to get back into the game, either I the regulation 90 minutes or the ten minutes of added time.
WHAT WAS SAID
‘Not a good enough second half. We can’t go from the first half, complete control, to that second half performance. They scored two goals out of absolutely nothing. From my perspective, we’ve got to be miles better in the second half, and then we make the changes to do what we should have been doing in the first half and then start kicking it long. So, listen, we’re architects of our own downfall today.
‘We don’t look like a 90 minute team at the moment. I said that at half time. I want a ninety minute team, and we haven’t put enough ninety minute performances in at the minute, for me. That showed in the second half. Yes, we’re always going to have to ride a bit of a storm. Yes, Walsall were lucky, so they had a much better second half, but I think we handed them the points if I’m being honest. By lack of control.
‘I said it nine or ten games ago and I’ve said it all along. We’re nowhere near the finished goal. Seeing what the league’s about, it’s nothing special if I’m honest with you. It’s competitive, but we’ve got to be seeing out games. When you’ve got that complete control that we had in the first half, for large spells of it, we have to be putting it into another 30/45 minutes. In the second half, we didn’t do that.’ Rovers Head Coach Darrell Clarke
‘On a personal note, I am happy that I could come back in. The gaffer has thrown me into the starting 11 out wide; I don’t think anyone was expecting that, but I don’t know where anyone expects me to play these days. I got to attack, be an outlet for the team and I guess a goal came from it, so I was delighted about it.
‘I am happy to just be useful for the team. Wherever the gaffer wants to play me, whenever he wants to play me, I am always here. We’re always working as a team. There are a lot of players that are versatile, we can change shape, and I am just happy to be a player who is useful.
‘It was a really good first half. I think we dominated, went 1-0 up and I thought it was really good, honestly. In the second half, we were under the cosh a bit and they got their goals. We are disappointed with the second half performance, especially knowing what we can do and what the team has achieved in the past month or so. It’s disappointing to leave here with nothing, but the signs are still there. In the first half, it was really good. We will take the positives but also reflect on the second half and work on it.’ Rovers midfielder Bryant Bilongo
I’ve spent all week watching Darrell’s teams; he’s amazing at seeing what the game looks like and changing. When you’re trying to prepare, you don’t know what it’s going to look like, and we did not 100% prepare for them to line up as they did.
‘Credit to them, it took us 45 minutes to work it out and we were desperate to get I at half time and sort it out. We made a couple of adjustments at the break and I thought the athleticism we managed to bring on got us back in the ascendancy.
Aaron Pressley is a big man, but he’s not a normal big man, I would say, because he’s as fit as a butcher’s dog. He’s always doing extra. He runs further than most and he’s a hell of a finisher as well. We just need to keep putting him in goalscoring positions because he’s shown us all what he can do.’ Walsall Manager Mat Sadler
