‘Lack of goals from Collins’: The talking points from Bristol Rovers’ EFL Trophy defeat to Exeter City

Bristol Rovers’ run in the EFL Trophy was brought to an end as they were eliminated by Exeter City.

The Gas were blown away as they conceded three goals inside 11 minutes before further damage was inflicted before the half was out.

Josh Coley and Pádraig Amond both scored a brace, in between Timothée Dieng’s strike.

Given there was a point where it could have been more, Zain Westbrooke, Ryan Jones and Nick Anderton scored in the second-half to make it a more respectable scoreline than first thought of.

Lack of goals from Collins continues to be a concern

Given the recent news that Harvey Saunders could be sidelined until the New Year alongside Brett Pitman and Leon Clarke, this shortage of strikers could be an issue.

Another game goes by however that summer signing Collins hasn’t found the net, which is frustrating.

In the first half, he had three opportunities to reduce the scoreline, as well as open his account, but luck isn’t on his side.

Two of them perhaps he could have done better with. Ryan Jones, who opened his account found Collins at the near post but he blazed a shot over the bar.

Then before the half-time whistle, Tyron Mbuenimo worked hard to find the former FGR striker in the box but he sent a shot just the wrong side of the post.

A goal has to come soon and it’s clear he’s a good striker at this level as he scored double figures last season.

Credit to Barton for sticking with the team?

You can’t really praise a manager when the team were 5-0 down at the break, but it was interesting to see Joey Barton didn’t make any changes at the break, or the half for that matter.

The players who got the team into the mess were tasked with getting them out of it and they gave an inspired performance in the second-half.

They had to weather the storm a bit in the first quarter but once Zain Westbrooke pulled one back, the tide was with Rovers.

Ryan Jones is a player who will have benefitted from that extra time on the pitch.

Getting his first goal in Rovers colours as well as an assist for Nick Anderton’s header.

End of a realistic chance of silverware?

Realistically, Rovers aren’t going to win the FA Cup and have Oxford United to overcome, but this was a good chance for a trip to Wembley.

There is a hope for an upturn in league form so the team can be in and around the play-off picture come the end of the season.

This though was a chance of progressing and earning a trophy come the end of the season.

Given how at the start of the day, they were second in the group, it’s a bit of a missed opportunity.