Player Ratings: Bristol Rovers vs Northampton Town (RESULTS)

Jaakkola 6.5 very little for him to do. Distribution was good.

Baldwin 8 my pick of a very good defence yesterday. Passing excellent.
Ehmer 7 a much improved performance. Definitely better on the right of a 3.
Harries 7.5 growing week on week into a very good player. Good technically.

Hare 6 much improved after HT. unlucky to hit the bar. Needs to get further forward when attacking.
Grant 6 poor first half, better in the second. Looks like he isn’t quite ready to play in an important position and role every week.
Westbrooke 7 again much improved second half. Much better dead ball delivery this week. Looked like the attacking play maker we saw in the games against Coventry last season towards the end of the game
McCormick 6 looks promising. Some nice touches but a bit wasteful in possession
Tutonda 8.5 great performance. Quick, skilful, direct. More of the same please

Daly 6 worked hard and has a turn of pace. Gave away the ball to easily.
Hanlan 8.5 MOTM just. Great performance again quick, skilful, direct and had the Northampton defence scared every time he got at them. Glad he got his first goal but really should of added another.

Subs: Nicholson 6 looked good.
Hargreaves 6 high energy. Needed to get involved more.

Ref 7 best so far this season. A little pedantic first half.
Northampton 4 I expected more from them for some reason.

Jaakkola 6 Nothing to do!

Baldwin 7.5 Well taken goal
Ehmer 7 Marshalled their strikers well
Harries 7 All three central defenders did well to restrict Northampton to hopeful long shots. However, I'm still not entirely convinced by the defending from crosses. The clearances never seem to clear out properly which always gives the opposition a chance.

Hare 7.5 I think his quality on the ball shines through and is my first choice RWB all day. Given him some allowance for his first league game back to get up to speed.
Grant 6 Apart from the first 10 minutes of the second half when he drove forward and showed some quality with a nice cross, he was a bit sloppy and got beaten to the ball a few times.
Westbrooke 6 I expect a lot from him because I think he is our best football player so when he is a bit loose like he was in this game it drops his rating down slightly.
McCormick 6 Brought energy to midfield again but would like to see him drive forward more like he did at the end of the first half to create chances. All three midfielders looked out of ideas in the first half on the break which is disappointing because I think they have the quality to play a cutting pass or move defenders around.
Tutonda 8 My first choice LWB. Can attack players like few others in the team. Thought he had the better of their right sided player all game.

Daly 6.5 Flashes from him again and chases everything which is always positive. For sure hasn't done enough to keep Nicholson out of the team though.
Hanlan 8 Has started the season well. Earnt the penalty and tucked it away with aplomb. I thought Bolger had a good game but Hanlan had the better of him in a very physical battle.

Subs: Nicholson 6.5 Bright when he came on but should have scored!
Hargreaves NOLE

Ref 7 No howlers which is a pleasant departure from the usual standard. The red card and the penalty were both correct decisions.
Northampton 5 They will struggle on the basis of this performance. Where was Lines?!

I was on a downer before kick off and throughout the first half - maybe I've been reading stuff on here too much! Second half was a good performance, once the first goal went in we didn't look back. Obviously Northampton were poor and that should be taken into account but I'm hoping the result breathes confidence into this young team and they kick on from here. The result doesn't matter against Oxford but whoever is playing needs to step up now the bar has been set. The likes of Leahy, Little, Kilgour, JML, Ayunga, Nicholson should all be looking to push their way back into the first XI to keep the competition for places intense. UTG

Jaakkola 7 .

Baldwin 7
Ehmer 6
Harries 7

Hare 8
Grant 5
Westbrooke 6
McCormick 5
Tutonda 7

Daly 6
Hanlan 8

Subs: Nicholson 7
Hargreaves 5

Ref 6
Northampton 2