Bristol Rovers see stand out home opportunity missed after tale of two halves against Crawley

On an afternoon where League One could have flexed its muscles to the outside world with enhanced interest in the division this year given some of the teams in it, the five games that survived the international cull produced just three goals with Bristol Rovers’ home game against Crawley Town one of a trio of goalless draws.

If you had said to any of the home fans in attendance at the Mem after the opening 15 minutes that the game would end up being as drab as it did from a Gas perspective, they’d have been left scratching their head.

Isaac Hutchinson slammed the underside of the crossbar within three minutes, Luke McCormick had a header go wide and then another well saved before Shaq Forde and Hutchinson also forced strong stops just before the interval.

However, the contrast between halves is a concern as Rovers lost any degree of control after the break with Crawley playing some neat football and asking some posing questions late on.

Where last weekend’s draw with Lincoln City felt like one point gained, this very much feels like two dropped and what felt like a good run of fixtures to build some momentum has now come and gone without the standard of results hoped for.

There’s plenty to sink the teeth into considering the lack of goals. Here are the stand out talking points…

Tale of two halves

Cliche, I know, but the contrast between the first and second halves is the major narrative of how the game played out. Matt Taylor was absolutely right post-match, his team should have been more than two goals up at half time which would have made the second half a much more comfortable spectacle.

However, even though Rovers hadn’t managed to find the back of the net, there was still a collective belief that based on what they had produced in the first 45 minutes that they would pick up from where they left off and ensure they got a deserved three points. The response was anything but.

The Gas looked sluggish and leggy and allowed Crawley a notable majority of the ball, considering they were at home. Scott Sinclair had the best opportunity soon after coming on when threaded through on goal by Chris Martin with Red Devils goalkeeper Connal Trueman making the space tight. A lobbed finish was all the Rovers captain could produce but he just got way too much under it with the ball closer to hitting the ‘T’ on the Thatcher’s End advertising than the back of the net.

As expected, the numbers totally prove the notion of the two teams having the better of the other in alternate halves with the Gas’ three shots on target all coming in the first half with nine of their eventual 10 efforts all coming before half time.

Meanwhile, Crawley ended up having 13 shots, 10 of which coming in the second half. They also had more of the ball in both halves with their eventual total being a comfortable 64 per cent. They also produced over double the amount of passes Rovers did with 159 to 362, testament to their style of play, but the hosts still edged the xG with 1.18 to 0.84.

Best partnership on pitch tells a story

For anyone who wants evidence that it takes notable time for players to forge partnerships on the pitch, all they have to do is watch Connor Taylor and James Wilson play alongside each other.

Kamil Conteh, Luke McCormick and Chris Martin were also at the club last season of course but had summer recruits in and around them with chemistry still building. As for Taylor and Wilson, although the latter particularly struggled with injuries last term, if they were both fit at the same time they generally played alongside each other and in the last two matches in particular, they’ve been outstanding together.

Taylor very much finds himself in the midst of some of his best form in a good while after a below par start to the campaign as he got back up to speed while Wilson, as we’ve said before, is up there for Rovers players of the season so far.

It’s easy to say the defence had a good game because they didn’t concede any goals but the two centre-backs were responsible for the stand out blocks and clearances with Bryant Bilongo also deserving a mention for his contribution.

Yes, the argument that players need time to gel is losing substance by the week as we get closer to December but the pair are proof that it doesn’t click with the snap of two fingers.

Substitutions raise eyebrows

Although sometimes it requires some bravery and the wearing of a tin hat, if you delve through the online reaction from supporters the vast majority of comments stated aggrievement in regards to the substitutions.

It would be fantastic if Rovers had the level of impact from the bench when in a tight spot that they had in the 3-1 win over Burton but that will be tough to trump. However, few games have seen an impact even come close to that afternoon and, although the first two changes were made before the hour mark, nothing really changed.

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The major point or query that seems to have been made is in regards to why Isaac Hutchinson and Kamil Conteh were the first two players brought off when both seemed to be having good games. Scott Sinclair injected some pace while Grant Ward is as dynamic as they come in this squad but it certainly was an eyebrow raiser.

Post-match, Matt Taylor stated he wanted more contribution from the players who came off bar Luke McCormick who was excellent. Of course, Sinclair could have scored that chance or Ward could have set up a winner and then all is forgotten but Rovers certainly didn’t get the improvement they desired with the changes.

Missed opportunity at home ahead of tough schedule

The major frustration upon reflection is that this run of four consecutive home matches was ear-marked as a great opportunity to kick the campaign into life a bit after a bit of a stop-start opening. Exeter City in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy was a bit of a write-off anyways due to the Gas’ position in the competition but to not have won any of the resulting three games in 90 minutes is concerning.

It never really mattered how Rovers got through against Weston-super-Mare in the FA Cup as long as they progressed. Sure, it was an under par display from the League One side but their non-league visitors were outstanding and the Gas did get over the line in the end.

The Lincoln performance was rightly seen as an impressive display in the way that Taylor’s men matched one of the league’s brightest sides throughout. However, it only would have been seen as a particularly good point had Rovers gone and beaten Crawley.

Perhaps unfairly, but Saturday’s match was always the one which the overall judgement and reflection of this period fell upon. Had they won, the results would have proven that a corner has been turned but the general feeling, in reality, is now an underwhelming one.

It was also an opportunity for Matt Taylor to also potentially earn back some faith from supporters who had lost some amid the pressure that had been growing on the Rovers manager. Unfortunately, this run of results probably hasn't helped convince those who are expressing a desire for a change otherwise.

What also plays into that is the upcoming fixture list, really for the remainder of the calendar year. Four of the Gas’ five league wins so far this term have come against teams below them in the table, three of which have very much been in the early relegation discussion over the opening months of the campaign.

Yes, they will host Blackpool and go to Leyton Orient in the coming weeks, who are currently 18th and 20th respectively, but they also play the likes of Mansfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City and Wrexham before Christmas. Not to say they can’t win any of those matches because they certainly can - all games are opportunities - but the standard of opposition is no doubt increasing which will require performances more complete than what Rovers produced against Crawley.