Bristol Rovers player ratings after 'unlucky' 7/10 and four 6/10s leave Gasheads deflated in Notts loss.

A smash and grab from Notts County seals an eighth consecutive League Two loss for Bristol Rovers, as Darrell Clarke fumes in a disappointing result. Rovers entered this game on the back of a three game losing streak, most recently to Cheltenham Town, as Clarke looked to pick his side up from a string of disheartening results.

Two changes were made from last week’s lineup, seeing Fabrizio Cavegn and Kamil Conteh make way for Luke Thomas and Shaq Forde, in a slight change in formation from last weekends 3-5-2 to a 3-4-3 this time around.

The opening ten minutes started with Rovers on the front foot searching for an early lead in a match that had a lot riding on the line for The Gas and just before 5th minute mark, Joel Cotterill was bearing down on goal from a fantastic Luke Thomas through ball, but Clarke’s side failed to capitalise on this early attacking moment.

Shortly after, County midfielder Scott Robertson found himself booked for a late challenge on Thomas. Then a perfectly delivered set piece from Cotterill found the head of Clinton Mola who saw his attempt met with cheers from the home fans, as it looked to be heading goal bound but ended just wide of the post.

Mola found himself at the centre of another goalscoring opportunity for Rovers as he was tee’d up by a Thomas pass for a long range attempt but this time around, the Gas defender saw his shot stray well away from goal, leaving no troubles for County’s number one.

Then, Alfie Chang came extremely close to scoring as he hit the post just six yards out in an attempt that looked certain to hit the back of the net, but the woodwork denied what would’ve been a deserving lead for The Gas.

Just before the 30 minute mark, Macauley Southam-Hales added to the mounting pressure by the home side, delivering a dangerous cross into the penalty area as Ellis Harrison met the delivered ball, heading it just stray of the goal frame.

Five minutes later, a brilliant ball from Cotterill found the on rushing Jack Sparkes who hit a mis-hit volley into the box, which caused Roos a lot of concerns as it bounced off the near post, almost putting the Gas one up.

And moments after, Gas fans were jubilant as referee Edward Duckworth reached to his back pocket to send Tyrese Hall for an early bath after a late challenge on Southam-Hales, handing the Pirates a significant boost in this match.

Just before half time, Clarke was forced to make an early substitution as Southam-Hales suffered an injury, seeing Freddie Issaka taking his place.

The home side continued their momentum in the second half, as just minutes in, Chang failed to capitalise on another goalscoring opportunity, having been moved further up the field with a switch in formation to a 4-3-3.

Just moments later, Harrison found another headed attempt denied, this time due to the heroics of the County man in between the sticks, Roos. Then minutes later, a clever cross from the outside of Sparkes’ left boot fell to Harrison, who once again saw his headed attempt fail to put the Gas one up.

Just after the 60th minute, Rovers were on the attack yet again, as Cotterill drove down the right hand side, linking up with Harrison, eventually executing a dangerous ball into the box, which became quite messy, but a Luke Thomas attempt fell straight into the gloves of the Dutch goalkeeper.

With almost 15 minutes to go, the Gas kept on pushing to find a winning goal, coming close as a lofted ball into the opposing box fell at the feet of Harrison, who hit a well timed volley effort forcing Roos into a sensational save to keep his side in this match.

Heading into the 84th minute, the Gas piled on the pressure even more, with the mounting pressure summed up with a long range attempt hit by Issaka which left the crossbar shaking.

With just four minutes to go, the away side stole all three points in an extreme smash and grab case, seeing their first only on target result in the winning goal in this match, after a deflected shot from County substitute Matthew Dennis, sent Gas goalkeeper Luke Southwood the wrong way, leaving Clarke’s side bewildered as their side came away with nothing this afternoon.

This result leaves the Pirates sitting 21st, just one point above the relegation spots, before they return to home action against Cambridge in the EFL trophy, then facing Port Vale back in League action as they have now suffered eight consecutive losses in League Two for the Gas, looking to stop this rotten run of form.

Player ratings:

Luke Southwood(GK): As usual, the Northern Irish international was in between the Rovers post. It was a relatively quiet afternoon for Southwood until the Notts County goal. It was the first shot on target for the visitors and there was nothing Southwood could do to stop it after a wicked deflection off of Lockyer and it wrong footed him. 6.5

Jack Sparkes: Sparkes started the game off like a lighting bolt as he was bolting up and down the left hand side and linking up beautifully with Luke Thomas. After 35 minutes had been played Sparkes nearly put his side in the lead when his sliding volley crashed against the post. Sparkes was terrorising the notts county right hand side the entirety of the second half and got cross after cross into the box but it wasn't to be. 7

Stephan Negru: Negru had a very quiet game but it wasn't a bad game whatsoever. The majority of the attacking play came down the other side of the pitch and meant that Lockyer or Mola had the majority of the clearing to do. However there were a few times where Negru had a foot race against a county attacker which he won well and kept the ball moving. He was replaced by Fabrizo Cavegn after 51 minutes. 6

Monumental record

Tom Lockyer(C): Making his 291st Bristol Rovers appearance today, the former Welsh international had a tricky job of marshalling a defense which was going against one of the better attacks in the division. He did that job very well and kept the visiting strike force to only one shot on target. Unfortunately, that shot on target came after it deflected off of Lockyer and flew into the back of the net and gave the visitors the win. 6

Clinton Mola: Once again in his now natural role playing on the left side of a back three had a solid performance today. His speed and power came in handy against a Notts County attack that looked to play balls over the top for their strikers to run on to. In the second half when Bristol Rovers were looking for a goal that would’ve given them the lead or made it level late on, Mola was trusted to be the only man at the back to stop attacks. 6.5

Macauley Southam-Hales: The wing back was on the receiving end of a nasty tackle by Tyrese Hall which resulted in the Notts County man receiving a straight red card. Unfortunately for Southam-Hales he pulled up 2 minutes later with a suspected bad hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Freddie Issaka. 6.5

Joel Cotterill: Had by far the best chance of the first 45 minutes when a scramble in the box after a free kick fell to him and he powered a shot towards goal but unfortunately it hit the post and couldn't give the gas the lead. The rest of the performance was mainly just getting the ball and moving on as cotterill didnt do anything to stand out but wasn’t hiding either. 6

Alfie Chang: The man on loan from Birmingham City had a quiet first 45 minutes however early on in the second half he had a brilliant opportunity to put Rovers ahead. He was played in by Harrison but Chang’s shot went just wide of the far post. Apart from that chance, Chang’s biggest impact on the game was consistent play with Luke Thomas on the right hand side of the second half. 6.5

Luke Thomas: Made his first league start since the game against Tranmere and looked very lively up and down the left wing. Showed a moment of class early on, when he received the ball from Sparkes before Thomas unleashed a lovely back-heel which nutmegged his marker and set Sparkes on the overlap to put in a cross. 7

Shaq Forde: The winger was one of the two changes made after the defeat to Cheltenham and during the time Forde was on the pitch he looked very creative and dangerous. His linkup play with Southam-Hales and Chang was very good in the first half but once Southam-Hales went off injured after 40 minutes Forde's impact was severely reduced and Forde was eventually subbed off at half time. 6.5

Ellis Harrison: Started up top by himself after Cavegn was dropped to the bench after the loss to Cheltenham last Saturday. Did well in the first half and looked lively with his runs in behind troubling the visiting defence but he couldn't make any clear cut chances for himself. However in the second half Harrison had a few chances which he definitely should’ve done better with to possibly put Rovers into the lead. 7

Substitutes:

Josh McEachran: Was brought on at half time for Shaq Forde in a substitution that probably didn't make sense at first due to Forde’s effectiveness in the first half, but McEachran gradually got himself into the game with keeping the ball in tight areas especially on the edge of the Notts County box. 6

Freddie Issaka: One of the most dynamic players on the pitch for the gas as Issaka was constantly getting on the ball and driving at his marker and creating chances. Had the best chance of the game for Bristol Rovers when he got the ball and cut inside before unleashing a thunder-smash which rebounded off of the crossbar but couldn't land on a Bristol Rovers boot. 7

Fabrizo Cavegn: The Swiss forward was brought on with over 40 minutes left to be played but even with his rapid pace and relentless work rate he couldn’t do anything to change the outcome of the match. 6

Callum Morton: Was brought on as a sub for his first game in 13 months and his Bristol Rovers debut but he wasn't on the pitch for enough time to create any impact on the game or scoreline. 6