Soccer
We’re not safe yet, says Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans
Bristol Rovers head coach Steve Evans says his side will not stop fighting as they moved even further clear of relegation danger with a 2-0 win over Accrington.
The Gas were good value for their victory, Riley Harbottle scoring his first goal since joining the club in January and wing-back Jack Sparkes wrapping up the points with a delightful free-kick in the second half.
The result made it five wins in the last six games for Rovers, who are up to 16th place and are very quickly forgetting their dalliance with the bottom two.
“We’re not mathematically safe unless I’ve seen the wrong table yet, but you see how people are fighting for their lives and we certainly are,” said Evans.
“It was difficult today. The wind spoiled it. It was so strong as you could see from the kicking of both goalkeepers – they couldn’t get it any distance at all.
“We’ve won as comfortably as we wanted to win.
“We got an early goal that always helps. It was a brilliant header from Riley Harbottle and I think he got 10-11 goals last season for Wimbledon when they got promoted so that’s a good sign for us going forward. And then we dominated.
“We could have scored four or five in that second half and they’ve only had one effort or so on target. Young (Mees) Rijks could have had a hat-trick when he came on.”
Defeat made it eight games without a win for John Doolan’s Accrington, who sit one place above Rovers in the League Two table.
Both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances on a blustery afternoon at the Memorial Stadium and Doolan was left visibly frustrated by his side’s display.
“First half was acceptable, second half wasn’t for me,” said Doolan. “It was a team that need to have a look at themselves really.
“We’ve got to do better, simple as. First half, I thought we were the better team, possession wise and everything else, but probably had one shot on target.
“And second half I thought we would go on and take the game to them, but that didn’t happen,”
Doolan revealed defender Devon Matthews was carrying a knock in the second half, which contributed to the free-kick for Rovers’ second goal and the 26-year-old’s substitution straight after.
“I’m not going to just let the season peter out. That game was there to be won today and we didn’t take it,” he added.
