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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Sam Frost

Bristol Rovers player ratings vs Sutton United: Evans steps up and both Andersons impress

Anssi Jaakkola - 7

His first involvement was a good save to repel Isaac Olaofe's early shot, but he will regret his involvement in the opening goal. He made a half-hearted attempt to claim a crossed free-kick and when he did not get to the ball the goal was left exposed. However, the big Finn atoned in stoppage time with a brilliant save to deny Donovan Wilson the winning goal.

Josh Grant - 6

Not at his best. Defensively solid but did not provide as much going forward as he'd have liked, with Rovers struggling to build play through the thirds on a difficult pitch.

Connor Taylor - 7

Some awkward moments on the ball and he appeared to be caught out a couple of times, but he always recovered. Won several important headers in the second half.

James Connolly - 6

A chastening physical test up against Sutton's bruising front two and he had several awkward moments. Gave away a cheap foul for the goal, but kept battling and did contribute some important defensive actions.

Nick Anderton - 7

Did a good job in the defensive third and his rare bursts forward, particularly late on, helped the Gas win territory.

Paul Coutts (c) - 7

On a very tricky playing surface, he managed the ball well. Made one mistake that gave Sutton a chance, but besides that he was one of few players who were able to exert control in possession.

Glenn Whelan - 5

Was tidy enough in possession, but a Coutts-Whelan axis in midfield is not the most dynamic and Rovers were able to penetrate through the lines more after the introduction of Elliot Anderson.

Sam Nicholson - 6

On an afternoon where it was difficult to do much with ball at feet, Nicholson gave it a good go and made several threatening darts into the box without creating too much. Did lay once chance on for Collins, but the striker couldn't make the most of it.

Antony Evans - 7

Sutton were keen to give him as little time on the ball as possible, but he still managed to influence the game. Was so unlucky to see a free-kick rattle the woodwork in first-half stoppage time. A quiet second half, but he was nerveless in thumping the equaliser into the bottom corner.

Luke Thomas - 5

Some of his better moments of late have come from leading Rovers' press, but with Sutton's defenders spending little time in possession it became a minimal part of the game. Thomas looked bright without providing

Aaron Collins - 5

Was contained for much of the first half, although his rasping shot did take a small deflection and crash the crossbar with Dean Bouzanis beaten. Marked out of the game in the second half but a physical defence.

Substitutes

Elliot Anderson (for Whelan on 56') - 7

Injected pace into Rovers' play, bringing dynamic running and progressive passing.

Harvey Saunders (for Thomas on 72') - 6

Hard running was valuable late on.

Harry Anderson (for Grant on 82') - 9

Rovers had lost all momentum by the time he was introduced, but he chased a lost cause and stole in ahead of goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis to win the penalty.

Not used: Jed Ward, Cian Harries, Pablo Martinez, Sion Spence.

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