Bristol Rovers player ratings: Too many 6/10s and just one 8/10 on a dismal opening League Two day for hosts

Bristol Rovers’ return to league two football was met with a 0-1 loss At the Memorial Stadium to Harrogate Town.

A goal from Stephen Duke-McKenna secured Harrogate's fifth opening day win in the last six seasons and it meant that Bristol Rovers have another opening day defeat

Returning to the dugout for the first time since 2018, new Rovers boss Darrell Clarke handed Bristol Rovers debuts to Luke Southwood, Jack Sparkes and Josh McEachran after their signings in the summer window.

Clarke is back at the club who he led to successive promotions from the National League to League One, including finishing third in League Two in 2016, and he won the League Two play-offs with Port Vale in 2022, so there was plenty of optimisim in the air.

While also handing Alfie Kilgour the captaincy armband as he makes his return to the Gas for the first time since 2023. And, there was also a return to EFL action for Kamil Conteh after a lengthy absence at the end of the previous season as Rovers hunted their first win since a win against Bolton Wanderers in the early stages of March.

Comedy of errors

Rovers dominated the early portions of the game and found themselves unlucky to not be ahead after 25 minutes when defenders Clinton Mola and Taylor Moore both had chances from set pieces. Moore’s was definitely more comical as it was a goalmouth scramble which lasted about 15 seconds and still didn't end up in the back of the net.

The visitors first chance came after a header from Mason Bennett but it sailed over the bar but it was enough to remind Rovers fans that Harrogate were still in the game despite the early Gas domination.

In the first 15 minutes of the second half there were multiple half chances but no one troubled either keeper. However, that all changed when a ball was played over the top to Harrogate forward Stephen Duke-McKenna.

Duke-McKenna collected the ball and, despite a lot of cries for offside from the Gas faithful, he proceeded to chip the ball over Southwood and give the visitors the lead.

This prompted Darrell Clarke to make a quadruple sub as Ollie Dewsbury, Issac Hutchinson, a debuting Ryan Towley and a returning Ellis Harrison to try and drag Rovers back into the game. It nearly paid dividends when Ellis Harrison was given a lovely ball that cut the Harrogate defence apart but his low shot cannoned against the post and kept the score 0-1.

Late on, Harrogate tried to employ the counter attacking tactic and they went close but never really threatened Southwood in the Rovers goal. As added time was announced the Memorial Stadium gave one last rallyiing cry but after numerous set pieces that didn't amount to anything, the final whistle was blown and it gave Rovers a losing start in the return to League Two.

Player ratings

Luke Southwood(GK): A quiet first 45 for Rovers new shot stopper as he didn't have to make a save. Did get busier in the second half when Harrogate began to dominate. Not much he could’ve done about the goal as he was beaten by a good finish. 6

Joel Senior: Senior looked good as a wing back in the back five formation today. Was caught out of position a few times but managed to track back and stop Harrogate getting crosses into the box. There were a couple moments in the first half where he could’ve attacked down the line a bit more but in the second he showed the initiative to get forward more and get crosses into the box. 6.5

Jack Sparkes: On his league debut for Rovers, Sparkes showed good ability to get down the line and link up well with forward players ahead of him. Sparkes also showed good defensive awareness to stop some Harrogate attacks. Was pushed further forward by Clarke in the last 10 minutes. 6.5

Taylor Moore: Looked comfortable with the ball early on and nearly grabbed himself a first half goal but he had numerous attempts blocked in quick succession. He looked very dangerous from almost every set piece that the gas had. 7

Alfie Kilgour(C): Handed the armband on his return to Bristol and locked imperious with lots of clearing headers and interceptions and just like his centre half partner, taylor moore, he looked dangerous from set pieces.Found himself in the wars in the first half and went down after a knock to the head twice but carried on as normal. 8

Clinton Mola: Clearly hampered with the massive cast around his arm after recent surgery, However he didnt let it affect him and he put in a very decent performance in an unusual position for him on the left side of the back three. Was replaced by Bryant Bilongo after 82 minutes. 6.5

Josh McEachran: Not the debutant's day as he looked slightly off the pace. There were a couple instances where he could've got the ball up the pitch a lot quicker than he did. He definitely did better with the defensive side by sweeping up the ball and stopping some attacking moves by the visitors. Was replaced by Ryan Towley after 68 minutes. 6

Kamil Conteh: His return to league action after an injury kept him out of the January to May portion of last season and this time he came back with a solid performance. He perfectly blended the mix of defence and attack and was constantly trying to get Rovers on the front foot and into Harrogate’s half. 7.5

Luke Thomas: After a quiet first 45, Thomas came into the game more and more as it went on in the second half. Should have at least gotten a shot off just before the hour mark when he was in a brilliant position to shoot but just couldn't find the space to get a shot off. 6.5

Ruel Sotiriou: A player who is going to be crucial if the gas wants to make an immediate return back to league one. Showed his quality in the first half with numerous clever runs into the box but his crosses and passes into the box were cleared. The second half was a different story as Harrogate kept him quiet and didn't give him time or space to create anything. Was subbed for Ollie Dewsbury after 68 minutes. 6.5

Promise Omochere: Just like Sotiriou, it is clear that if Rovers want to head straight back to league one at the first time of asking then Omochere will be a big part of it. Just like the majority of the team it was a good first 45 minutes but in the second half there was no huge impact. Was replaced by Ellis Harrison after 68 minutes. 7

Substitutes

Isaac Hutchinson: Came on and struggled to really grasp the game in midfield. Had a couple chances to get the ball into the box via set pieces but nothing came from them. 6.5

Ellis Harrison: Got a massive return on his return to the memorial stadium after departing in 2018. Looked really positive when he came on and he did have Rovers best chance of the game when he was slipped through and his shot beat Belshaw but couldn't beat the post. Linked up well with Dewsbury and that could be something for Darrell Clarke to think about. 7

Ryan Howley: Replaced McEachran and slipped in nicely next to Conteh as Rovers looked to grab an equaliser and get them a point. Unfortunately he couldn't get the goal or be part of it but it was a decent cameo for Howley. 6

Bryant Bilongo: Came on late to help nullify the threat of Harrogate on the counter attack and played his part in making sure it was only 0-1. He was in the box a few times for set pieces but couldn't get on the end of it. 6

Ollie Dewsbury: Probably the best cameo appearance that Dewsbury has had since his introduction to the first team squad towards the latter part of last season. Had a great opportunity to score but had the ball just taken off of his foot by a Harrogate player just as he was to fire a shot off. 7