To produce quite possibly your best performance of the season and still end up on the losing side is the gutting reality of Bristol Rovers ‘ 1-0 defeat at Reading on Saturday afternoon as the Gas produced a commendable response to major setbacks.
Rovers had played well at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in the first half before Shaq Forde was sent off early in the second half after being shown the second of two extremely naive yellow cards. It felt as though from that point the Gas would crumble and what had looked a potentially bright game on the road would then turn into another forgettable display away from the Mem, especially when not so long after, Sam Smith handed the hosts the lead.
However, from that point on, Rovers dominated the match despite having a man less and created some significant opportunities to equalise while also defending superbly to ensure the deficit remained just the one goal to give them a chance and getting a result.
Admittedly, no points were secured despite at least a draw being deserved and it will certainly leave a bitter taste in the mouth with no league action for a fortnight. However, a number of positives can be taken from the performance.
There’s plenty to sink the teeth into after one of the most entertaining 1-0s you could watch. Here are some of the stand out talking points.
Shaq Forde foolish but post-match events completely unacceptable
It’s quite incredible that we’re having to even talk about this but there’s, unfortunately, only one place to start when reflecting on Saturday. Forde’s red card was incredibly poor from the forward and we’ll get onto that but to write out that the 20-year-old was then subject to racist abuse is utterly disgraceful.
Bristol Rovers should be commended for their outstanding statement on the matter. It absolutely hit the nail on the head. Enough is certainly enough.
Forde shared a vile comment he received on Instagram on his story and said in a separate post there were more messages from so called fans. “So called” doesn’t cut it. These aren’t supporters. These are criminals who don’t deserve the privilege of being associated with any football club or sports association.
The fact that we’re writing something like this in October 2024 is heartbreaking. I can’t even begin to imagine what the young Rovers forward is feeling right now after what had already been a difficult day for him.
Yes, the red card was poor. Two yellow cards for completely naive moments, pulling down a man when he was never getting to the ball and then kicking away the ball in frustration when not getting a free-kick. One of the most frustrating aspects is that he had been playing well and looked like the Gas’ most dangerous forwards.
However, the post-game incident has completely overshadowed the football. It’s an absolute disgrace.
Connor Taylor colossal on century appearance
Again, it feels odd to offer such high praise to a defender in a defeat but Connor Taylor was back to his best in what was his 100th appearance for the Gas.
Bar one slip in the first half which should have led to a goal from Harvey Knibbs, the centre-back dealt with every ounce of adversity that came his way.
Deployed in a back-four with Taylor Moore to his right at right-back and James Wilson his centre-back partner, the trio as well as left-back Clinton Mola worked outstandingly well together.
An absolute giant, we all know that Taylor should be able to win the vast majority of his headers but sometimes it’s not the case. It certainly was on Saturday while he also made some crucial blocks and interceptions against some superb attacking players at League One level.
Like his teammates, especially those alongside and behind him, the 23-year-old was unlucky to be on the losing side but it’s something he now has to build on after what has been a bit of a stop-start opening few months of the campaign.
Performance stepped up
Matt Taylor said ahead of the Reading game that his team now needed to step up their performances on the back of what has been an upturn in form with three wins in four. Admittedly, and this has certainly been pointed out by supporters, the victories came in games you would expect the Gas to win with Burton Albion and Shrewsbury Town in particular currently in the relegation zone.
Therefore, the manager made the point that Rovers now need to step things up and compete with some of the better sides in the league, something that the Royals are proving to be. Step up the performance levels did.
Naturally, no display is going to be perfect and there are certainly parts that can be picked out that must be improved on but it was the most competitive the Gas had looked against a strong, in-form team, all season, on the road at least.
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Although it offered limited chances, the opening half-an-hour was certainly entertaining with both sides testing each other out and looking dangerous. Rovers should have taken the lead when Ruel Sotiriou fired narrowly wide while Josh Griffiths was forced into some good saves late in the first half.
The second half started where the first had left off and, as mentioned, the sending off looked as though it would inevitably condemn Rovers but, even after going behind, they fought valiantly for the cause.
Unity from biggest away support tells whole story
If you needed to get an idea of what the Gas had done on the pitch, even in defeat, the post-match response from the 1,600-odd travelling supporters said everything you needed to know.
Only a week prior there had been boos and jeers as well as calls for the manager to be sacked after a poor display at Huddersfield Town. This time, supporters applauded their players and chanted proudly.
They made themselves heard particularly in the second half at Reading as they tried to suck the ball into the net themselves but it all came in response to what they were seeing from their team on the pitch which was grit, fight and determination.
That now has to set a standard. Too often this term have Rovers been timid on the road and comfortably second-best. It’s a shame that they couldn’t take the opportunity to launch themselves up the table with a victory and go level on points with the Royals but this has to be used as a turning point when league football resumes in two weeks time.