Player Ratings: Sutton United vs Bristol Rovers (RESULTS)

Jaakkola 6 kept us in it at the end with two good, regulation shot stops, but for me was at fault with the goal by cumming and making a mess.

Grant 8 was swapping sides and everywhere ever present.
Connolly 8 solid.
Taylor 8.5 perennial m o m.
Anderton 7.5 decent.

Whelan 7 steady.
Coutts 8 great defensive work a*****t everything else.

Thomas 6.5 lively but failed to deliver.
Evans 6 all he does is score goals and hit the bar!
Nicholson 6.5 worked hard.

Collins 7 unlucky with his deflected shot but ran loads and some of his runs weren't picked.

Subs: E Anderson 7.5 drew the foul forcing an equaliser.
Saunders 7 ran well.
H Anderson nole.

Ref 7.5 I thought he got most decisions correct.
Sutton 7 well organised and could have won it at the end....I thought we were worthy of a draw, at one time having 64% possession, but couldn't quite get over the line, hence a draw fair result.

Sutton are on promotion bounce, their whole feel around the place is of positivity and they may be right - they might be going places - I'm just glad our in form performance competed with an automatic promoted placed team at home, on their own patch.

Small steps.
This time last year we would've lost that match easily.

Well done playing, coaching staff, management and us fans for sticking with it and (possibly) witnessing the end of a downfall era, and the embryo of a different era.


EDIT: Why is "am0ngst" censored?

The m 0ng word

Jaakkola 6 -At fault for the goal and does have a weakness on crosses. Great saves at the end though.

Grant 6 - average
Connolly 6.5 - Both centre backs struggled but stuck to their tasks well. He will not face many teams like Sutton.
Taylor 7 - As for Connolly but coped better
Anderton 7.5 - Thought that he gave a very solid performance especially against one of the best wingers in the league two

Whelan 5.5 - needed to be quicker and more inventive
Coutts 7 - made a few mistakes and bad decisions but overall solid

Thomas 6 - was kept fairly quiet by the Sutton defence
Evans 6.5 - not at his best. Like most players yesterday his final ball could of been better. A few delightful flicks and good penalty.
Nicholson 6 - poor first half, better second. Some runs with the ball glued to his feet were a joy to watch. Poor final balls.

Collins 6 - good first half. Less effective in the second.

Subs: E Anderson 6.5 - certainly looked to have the strength, skill and imagination to be a very good loan signing
Saunders 6
H Anderson 6 - did very well to win the penalty

Ref 8 - Good ref. Certainly not a homer.
Sutton 7 - Gave us a lot of possession which made us appear satistically better than we were. They created enough clear chances to win easily. Very direct and strong with pace. Have a tried and trusted system with the right players for it. Not convinced that they would be so successful in League One if they were to go up. We are also capable of being better and more incisive. If we are at the top of our game we should win the return fixture.

Jaakola - 7. At fault for the goal but good saves at the end to make up for it.

Grant - 7.5. Solid
Taylor- 7. Had to work hard against fast forwards but did ok.
Connolly- 6. Caught out for the free kick that led to their goal. Caught out late in the second half trying to let the ball go out of play, led to Sutton hitting the post. Looked a bit nervous at times. But he did some good things and he will learn from this I’m sure.
Anderton - 7. Solid.

Whelan - 7. Had a good first half.
Coutts - 8. Had a good game. Always available for a pass. Kept us moving forward. And cleared the ball off the line.

Thomas - 7. Not quite his day. Tried hard.
Evans - 7.5. His first two dead balls, free kicks, went straight into touch and I feared the worst. But soon got into the game and did well in the second half.
Nicholson- 8. I was close to the left hand corner flag by the Sutton penalty area in the second half and saw a lot of Nicholson with the ball at his feet. A joy to watch at this level.

Collins - 7.5. Hit the bar, drew a good save from their keeper. Good control. Good player.

Subs.
E Anderson. 7. So this Anderson is the loanee from Newcastle? He won the penalty? He showed some nice touches.
Saunders. 7. Did ok.
Anderson. NOLE. Apologies if I’ve mixed up the Andersons.

Sutton. Fast forwards and no nonsense defenders. Not much midfield. A bit one dimensional and physical. Maybe a 7.
Ref: 7. Really pi$$ed off the Sutton fans near me but he seemed to get most things right. If he could referee every game we play I’d be happy.

Jaakkola 6

Grant 7
Connolly 7
Taylor 8
Anderton 7

Whelan 6
Coutts 7

Thomas 7
Evans 7
Nicholson 6

Collins 7

Subs: E Anderson 7
Saunders…7
H Anderson 7

Ref 8
Sutton 6