Absent captain and off-key strikers proves to be costly
BRISTOL ROV 1 SCUNTHORPE 2
BRISTOL Rovers are still waiting for their first consecutive wins of the season after they went down to a 2-1 defeat to Scunthorpe United on Saturday.
IT WAS JUST NOT ROVERS’ DAY
ALTHOUGH Scunthorpe took all three points there were plenty of positives to take from a Rovers perspective.
Rovers conceded a dubious goal in the first half when Lee Novak found the net when he looked to be in an offside position, as well as a deflected effort from Matty Lund to win the game for Scunthorpe with 13 minutes to play.
However, the Pirates created a lot of chances throughout the game and could have potentially had two or three goals.
Tom Nichols, Stefan Payne, and Kyle Bennett had great chances in the first half before Liam Sercombe smashed home in the second minute of added time in the first half. Rovers also threatened in the second half, but were frustrated by Scunthorpe’s back line and Chris Lines was brilliantly denied from the spot by Jak Alnwick.
Still, plenty of positives for Darrell Clarke to take ahead of the visit of Barnet on Wednesday.
ROVERS’ MIDFIELD CONTINUES
TO CHIP IN
WITH the lack of goals being provided by the strikers, the midfielders have been helping to take some of the pressure off the forward line.
A Rovers striker has not scored since early October when Alex Jakubiak netted in the Checkatrade Trophy tie against Yeovil, meaning Rovers have had to source goals from other areas of the pitch.
In the last four games, Ollie Clarke grabbed a brace at Blackpool, Chris Lines scored against Barnet, and Liam Sercombe found the net against Scunthorpe.
Earlier on in the season, Darrell Clarke said he needed his “creative players to contribute more” and since then they have stepped up to the plate.
SERCOMBE NEARLY BACK TO HIS BEST
IT has not been the best of seasons so far for Rovers midfielder Liam Sercombe. He was excellent in his first season at the club and quickly became a fans favourite.
With an injury-hit season thus far, Sercombe is putting a string of starts together and was excellent against Scunthorpe.
Sercombe made numerous driving runs forward from midfield and was at the heart of everything good offensively for Rovers.
He took his goal brilliantly and hopefully he will stay fit for the remainder of the season.
STILL NO GOALS FOR ROVERS’ STRIKERS
ALTHOUGH both Stefan Payne and Tom Nichols had good games, there is still no goal for a Rovers striker in eight games.
Rovers did create chances throughout the game with Payne having his shot from inside the sixyard box deflected over, and Nichols being denied by a brilliant save from Alnwick in the first half.
Payne then earned a penalty for Rovers after some good work from the former Shrewsbury man in the
box – only for Lines to be denied by the goalkeeper.
Both strikers both worked hard, however it was another blank for the front line.
WITH Tom Lockyer away on international duty with the Wales national team, the Pirates’ defence seemed to struggle without the club captain in his usual place.
In the opening exchanges, Scunthorpe threatened with Ryan Colclough and Lee Novak on either wing.
In parts, the defence seemed to lack leadership, which shows just how important Lockyer is to this Rovers side.