Bristol Rovers player ratings: 'impressive' 7/10 and 'quiet' 6/10 in 2-1 defeat by Exeter City

Bristol Rovers dropped into the relegation zone after a dismal 2-1 defeat to Exeter City. The result now leaves the Gas in 21st position after Burton Albion’s win over Huddersfield town.

Goals from Caleb Watts and a cracker from Reece Cole gave the Grecians three points away from home despite a Ruel Sotiriou pulling one back for Rovers to set up a tense finale.

After a slow start to the game for both teams, the match was sparked into thanks to Watts’s goal. A cross came into the box and although Gas captain James Wilson cleared the ball it fell into Watts’s feet, and he quickly fired it past Ward to give the visitors the lead.

The Rovers response to the goal never came as they were not at the races in the first half with O’Donkor, Sotiriou and Shaw all struggling to get involved in the opening exchanges.

And the visitors doubled their lead after 42 minutes thanks to a pearler from Cole. The ball was up in the air for a couple of seconds but when it was time, Cole volleyed with power and precision to double the Grecians lead in front of their supporters.

Response to boos

Boos rang round the Mem following the first-half whistle and Rovers boss Inigo Calderon responded by makng a double substitution at half time replacing midfielders Grant Ward and Matt Butcher with Isaac Hutchinson and Luke Thomas.

Thomas nearly made an instant impact after a searching ball found him nearthe byline and he took the ball into the box but his cross couldn't find a blue and white shirt to get on the end of it.

Rovers did get one back thanks to Ruel Sotiriou after a bit of a bobble in the box, the ball came to him and put it into the back of the net to halve the deficit and get the Gas some hope.

Despite having loads of possession and crosses into the box, no Rovers player could get on the end of it and get Rovers a point.

However, after eight minutes added on, Rovers couldn't find a goal and it meant that Gary Caldwell’s side took home the three points back to Devon.

The outcome of a difficult day in BS7 now means that Rovers have not won at home since early March against Bolton Wanderers.

Bristol Rovers player ratings

Jed Ward: Couldn't do much for the opener with the ball going just past his glove and into the far corner. For the second he was beaten by a tremendous finish by Reece Cole. When called into action, he has looked comfortable with no real big saves in the first 45. 6.5

Jack Hunt: Looked very good attacking in the first half but his crossing couldn't pick out a man in the box. Was less dangerous going forward in the second half instead opting to provide more defensive support in case of a counter attack. 7

James Wilson: His clearance was what led to the opener for the visitors. Wasn't a bad clearance however the ball went straight to the Exeter attacker. Other than that, it was a usual James Wilson performance with his passing out from the back was good. 6.5

Connor Taylor: Probably the better of the two central defenders today. Looked better with the ball and won pretty much all of his duels. 7

Dutch courage

Sil Swinkels: The central defender now it seems is a permanent left back under Calderon. Spells off really good and really quiet from the Dutchman. Had some good runs deep into Exeter territory in the first half but nothing came from them. His defending was good though, showing good speed to keep up with the Exeter winger on numerous occasions. 6.5

Grant Ward: Not the greatest day for the midfielder. No big mistakes that lead to a chance or goal however there were a few passes over or under-hit. There was an instance in the first half where Sotiriou was in, but Ward couldn't pick out the pass. 6

Matt Butcher: A quiet performance in the Rovers midfield today for Butcher as. It wasn't a bad performance by the Wycombe loanee, but he saw the ball often to get it moving up the pitch. 6

Romaine Sawyers: A composed performance which we are getting used to seeing from Sawyers in a blue and white shirt. Always open to receive the ball, he kept the ball moving at pace but also knew when to hold onto it for a second or two longer. Was a particularly impressive moment in the second half where he received the ball with his back to goal and flicked the ball over his marker before dribbling up the pitch. 7.5

High intensity

Kofi Shaw: The youngster continues to show what Calderon picks him in the squad. A very forward thinking performance from Shaw. Pressing up and down the pitch when high intensity to try and get Rovers at least a point but it wasn't to be. 7

Ruel Sotiriou: A return to the scoresheet for the Cypriot today. The goal game at a time when everybody needed a lift. Was Sotiriou’s first goal since his goal against Huddersfield in early march. In the rest of the game Sotiriou was Rovers’ best player with his dribbling in the first half especially impressive. 7

Gatlin O’Donkor: Wasn't the performance that we saw in the last home game against Birmingham City His work rate was there but the brilliant hold up and runs in behind weren't there today. 6

Substitutes

Scott Sinclair: Sinclair also struggled when coming on as he didn’t see much of the ball despite coming onto a position where Rovers had the majority of their success in the game. 6

Luke Thomas: Part of two changes made at half time and Thomas was probably the most impactful across the second 45. Good pace up and down the wing which the visiting defence struggled to deal with. Created a really good chance just minutes after coming on but his ball across the box couldn’t pick out a Rovers boot. 6.5

Issac Hutchinson: Also, a part of the double change at half time. Hutchinson tried to be a deep lying playmaker but due to the manor of the Exeter defence it meant that he struggled to get the ball in between defenders for the attacker to run onto. 6.5

Ollie Dewsbury: The youngster came on but couldn’t make a dent in the game. Lots of tireless running couldn’t create anything for himself or others but not for the lack of trying. 6