Bristol Rovers player ratings after 'hero' 8/10 and eight 7.5/10s leave Gasheads delighted in Shrewsbury win

Bristol Rovers fans celebrated ST Patrick’s day with multiple renditions of Zombie by the Cranberries after Tommy Leigh’s goal secured a one-nil win over Shrewsbury Town

Leigh’s second-half winner, which is becoming quite a regular around these parts, was enough for Rovers to make it three home wins in a row.

Steve Evans made four changes from the side that lost 0-1 at league leaders Bromley on saturday with Riley Harbottle, Alfie Kilgour, Joe Quigley and Tommy Leigh coming into the side. They replaced Tom Lockyer, Mees Rijks, Ellis Harrison and Ryan De Havilland, who dropped out.

For the visitors, Gavin Cowan made three changes to his side that lost 0-2 at home to Cheltenham three days ago, with Nick Freeman, Anthony Scully and George Lloyd replacing Perry, Tommy McDermott and Ogunsuyi.

The Gas were hoping for a repeat of the reverse fixture on New Year's Day when they ran out 0-3 winners away from home in a result that gave them their first win in 12 games. Fabrizio Cavegn scored his first hat-trick in English football to secure a desperately needed victory.

Today’s game, however, would be perfectly described as one for the purists, especially the first 45 minutes. There was very limited action at both ends of the pitch, with keepers Brad Young and Matthew Cox being very quiet in the first half.

The manner of this game being 18th vs 17th in the table meant that it was a cagey affair, but Joe Quigley had the best chance of the first half when the ball fell to him from a recycled set piece, but his half volley went wide of the far post and meant that the sides went into half-time all square.

The first 15 minutes of the second half were much of the same, with both sides pushing for an opener but struggling to break down resolute defences. This led to Steve Evans making an attacking triple change with Yusuf Akhramich, Ellis Harrison and Luke Thomas replacing Riley Harbottle, Joe Quigley and Fabrizio Cavegn. They were also without Shaq Forde, who wasn’t available due to his sending off against Barrow last time out.

These changes seemed to buoy a seemingly deflated Rovers crowd and bring more life and atmosphere to a Memorial Stadium, with the atmosphere mainly coming from the travelling Salop fans.

Substitute Akhamrich had the first big chance of the second half when he picked the ball up after Cox’s goalkick was headed back forward by Alfie Kilgour, and Akhamrich was unmarked on the right side of the pitch. He drove forward, but his shot narrowly went wide, much to the annoyance of some in the Brunel stand who thought the ball had crept in at the near post and jumped up to celebrate.

But with 11 minutes of normal time to go, finally, something happened in the game. And for the second home game in a row, it came from Tommy Leigh. Kofi Balmer’s long throw into the box caused havoc from the moment it left his hands, and after a few attempted clearances and bounces, it fell to Leigh on the edge of the box, and his deflected effort wrong-footed Cox and gave Rovers the lead.

After ten minutes of added time, which the Bristol Rovers fans did not agree with, the ref blew his whistle for the final time tonight, and Gasheads could breathe a sigh of relief after some late Shrewsbury pressure, which was well defended by a Rovers defence that allowed only one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

Rovers ratings

Brad Young (GK): Despite a rare moment of uncertainty against Bromley on Saturday, which Evans suggested may have taken a deflection, the Rovers goalkeeper retained his place ahead of Luke Southwood, having impressed consistently since being handed the shirt with three clean sheets to his name, and with not much threat dealt the goalkeepers way, it was seemingly a quiet night for the man in between the Pirates sticks. 7.5

Joel Senior: Approaching his 15th start of the campaign, the 26-year-old made it seven consecutive appearances in a Rovers shirt, picking up two assists in his last three games, but showed his expertise defensively throughout the ninety, shutting off any Shrewsbury threat. 7.5

Alfie Kilgour (C): After a short time on the sideline due to injury, the captain saw his name back in the starting lineup, having just broken 150 appearances for his boyhood club, and he proved to be an excellent presence in the heart of the Gas back line, having kept Shrewsbury forward, George Lloyd, quiet. 8

Kofi Balmer: The Northern Irishman has become a mainstay at the back, completing 90 minutes in each of the Gas’ last 12 matches, while also adding two eye-catching goals, including his strike in the win over Grimsby that sparked Rovers’ improved run of form, and the 25 year old once again displayed why Evans very much favoures the defender in his side. 7.5

Riley Harbottle: Returning from injury, the former AFC Wimbledon defender returned to action for the first time since early February, and it was a comfortable night for the defender, having limited the Salop's creativity, displaying a solid performance in the 60 minutes he was awarded. 7.5

Jack Sparkes: Arriving on his 35th league appearance of the season, the defender delivered a much needed gritted performance in an important clash and thrived defensively in a game with a personal milestone. 7.5

Clinton Mola: The 25-year-old, fresh from his birthday, was deployed further forward in midfield tonight, hoping to mark the occasion with three points for the Gas, in which he succeeded, after helping the home team dominate much of the game, leaving the travelling fans with little to celebrate. 7.5

Richie Smallwood: Like Senior, the Tranmere loanee made it seven successive starts in blue and white, with the experienced midfielder offering composure and defensive solidity in the middle of the park in a clash that had a lot riding on it for the Pirates. 7

Joe Quigley: The 29-year-old marked his tenth appearance for the Gas since signing from Oldham in January, and the forward made a presence aerially and physically bullied the Salop defenders at times, but unfortunately couldn’t find his third goal of the season, and made a positive feature regardless. 7

Memorial’s hero

Tommy Leigh: The hero of Rovers’ last home outing, with a late brace against Crewe Alexandra, the former Oldham striker was aiming to make another decisive contribution as the Gas chased a third home win for the first time since September, and like Quigley, Leigh was a nuisance physically for the away defenders, and was yet again the hero for a second consecutive time at the Mem with a fantastic finish from outside the box. 8

Fabrizio Cavegn: The Swiss forward, withdrawn at half-time on Saturday, was restored to the starting line-up and made his 45th appearance of the season, and bagged a hattrick in the reverse fixture against tonight’s opponents, and showed great urgency utilising his pace and left the Salop defenders concerned at times before being hauled off after sixty minutes, failing to add to his impressive tally as the club’s top scorer. 7.5

Substitutes:

Yusuf Akhamrich: Having missed out on a starting position for the third consecutive time, the Tottenham Hotspur loanee returned to action at the Mem, looking to build on his strong record at home, where all four of his goals for the club have come, including a memorable debut. The 20-year-old offered a fresh injection of pace and seemingly appeared to be the home side’s brightest spark going forward with some dangerous attempts from range. 7.5

Ellis Harrison: Brought on to offer more of a threat going forward, the Gas veteran didn’t quite have the intended impact as a goal threat, as he still searches for a first goal since December, although the forward became pivotal in the latter stages of the game, drawing fouls and helping the home side secure a hard-fought three points. 7

Luke Thomas: Another of the three new introductions brought on to find a winning goal tonight, the Gas forward marked his 30th league appearance of the campaign, and offered significant fresh legs in the middle of the park and was part of a contribution which helped the home side earn a defining goal. 7

Kane Thompson-Sommers: After a slow start to life in BS7, the MK Dons loanee has begun to find his feet, earning his first away point for Rovers following impressive displays, but found his name on the bench today as he was brought on with little time to spare to help protect a much-needed 1-0 victory tonight. 7