Bristol Rovers 2-1 Crewe Alex 25-26 Review - Worst Loss of the Season

I am beyond angry right now. Livid, furious, apoplectic. Get me the thesaurus and I'll find a couple more words. They've now lost 12 games. 5 were against decent sides. Ok, they happen. 4 were against mid-table sides. Frustrating, but fine. Yes, the defeats at Barrow and Newport were very poor. But they were depleted against Newport and Barrow was an off day. No, this loss takes the biscuit for bad defeats this season. I'm saying this for hyperbole or to get a reaction either. Let me explain why I'm saying it:

Fast First Half

The Alex played really well in the first half. Yes, some of their attacking play didn't quite come off but they restricted Bristol Rovers to nothing in front of goal. Not a single shot on target. The Alex themselves looked dangerous, got a deserved lead and should have been further ahead but for some last ditch Rovers defending and some better decision making. It was about as good a first half performance on the road in a long difficult away game as you could reasonably hope to expect.

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But then the 2nd half started. And the Alex seemed determined to do everything in their power to assist Bristol Rovers in getting the win. There was no attacking game plan, no push back against pressure that Rovers were inevitably going to throw at the Alex. And what's more, there is no excuse for it either. They are on a good run. They had options on the bench.

They had experience on the pitch in Lawlor, Demetriou, Powell, Thomas, March. Hutchinson, Connolly, Billington, Holicek, all over 100 appearances each. They brought on plenty more experienced players in Sanders, Lankester and Bogle. So what in god's green earth was that performance about? Just chucking it up the pitch, a total loss of composure, a total loss of leaders, players willing to get it down and play. And then, when it mattered in 2 key moments, players not doing their jobs. Just a lack of everything. It's inexcusable.

Subs

And whilst there was a head loss on the pitch, where was the help from the sidelines? Did they really need to make 3 subs at the same time on the hour mark? I get Thomas needed to come off and Powell and March also needed breaks. But why at the same time? You don't throw in 2 half fit players and one of your most inexperienced players in cold in a game like this at the same time. It's baffling why they did that. Surely you spread them out to help slow the game down, let one sub get up to speed and then bring on the next.

And it wasn't just who they brought on, it was how they reshuffled the team in doing so as well. Why did they move Billington into CM, when he's not one? Keep him at RWB, drop Holicek into midfield and have Agius slot in alongside O'Reilly surely? Why put Agius, who's barely played at RWB, out there with Connolly backing him up? Why bring on Bogle, who I'm sorry has contributed absolutely nothing since he's come back from injury, over Thibaut, who has 3 goal contributions in his last 7 games?

Yes, the players pooped all over themselves. But today was shambolic from the management when it came to the 2nd half, it really was.

Rudimentary

When they collapsed against Cambridge back in November, at least they were good at home. The loss at Newport was bad, but they were starting players like Mingi, Moult and Rankine. Notts County are decent at home. But Bristol Rovers, who yes deserved their win for their 2nd half display, were utterly bereft of proper quality. They just did what every Steve Evans team does. Chuck the ball into the box over and over again and wait for the opposition to crumble. Which the Alex duly did. For the Alex to only take 1 point from 2 games against a very poor Gas side is embarrassing.

Move On

It'll take me some time to process just how they conspired to lose that game. It's a bad loss, let's not pretend otherwise. But they just have to put it out of their systems as best they can and move on. They are outside the top 7 on goal difference. They have 10 games to go, 5 at home, 5 away. It's very much in their hands if they want to finish in the top 7. They have some tough games coming up. Walsall won't be easy. Cheltenham are fighting for their lives. The cross county game against Shrewsbury is a biggie.

They've worked damn hard in 2026 up till now to get themselves back into contention. What they can't let this defeat do is fester and derail the rest of the season. They need to use it as motivation to kick on and get back on the winning trail in some big games in the next couple of weeks.

Ref Assessment

He may as well have put a blue and white shirt on and given up the pretence. Caved in to fan pressure and gave the majority of the 50/50s the home side's way. Missed a red card on Harrison in the 1st half.

Management Assessment

Poor from them as I mentioned above. Go back to what you know works next week. It was an bad day all round. They have got to put it right next week.

Player Assessments

Ian Lawlor

Feel for him. Nothing much to do except pick the ball out of his net twice. Let down by the players in front of him.

James Connolly

I'm really tired of watching him play. He just fouls players, at both ends. Get him on the bench and keep him there.

Mickey Demetriou

Great first half, non-existent second half. Where was the leadership from him to calm the group down?

Alfie Pond MOTM

Got a bit lucky with his goal, but you'll take it. I don't think he was particularly to blame for anything that went wrong today. He gets the MOTM for his goal.

Reece Hutchinson

Another I wouldn't pin too much on. He definitely looks more comfortable as a LB, rather than a LWB.

Conor Thomas

Things went to pieces when he went off, I can't deny that. Does it not make more sense then to keep him on the bench and save him for later in games then?

Jack Powell

I get why he had to come off, as the game was starting to pass him by in the 2nd half. But both him and Thomas as the same time? I don't get it.

Matus Holicek

Some nice moments, but nothing in an attacking sense unfortunately, which is my frustration with him.

Tommi O'Reilly

Lively in the first half, but faded in the 2nd as his team mates fell apart. The right decision to hook him.

Josh March

Had little service but I thought he linked the play well and him coming off when Bogle on was a noticeable downgrade.

Subs:

Max Sanders

Good to see him back, but he was poor and added nothing when he came on. Hopefully as he gets his legs back he'll improve. He starts next week.

Calum Agius

Poor lad. RWB? Seriously?

Omar Bogle

Adrien Thibaut must be sat there wondering what he's done wrong at this point. Sorry, but Bogle has offered nothing since his return and continued to do so today.

Jack Lankester

Not at it at all. I get he's had 4 months out, but he needs to start contributing in the coming weeks.

Overall Verdict

A bad loss. A really bad loss. The only thing that rectifies this is a win next week against Walsall. Do that and we can begin to put this defeat behind us.