Player Ratings: Bristol Rovers vs Northampton Town (RESULTS)

Belshaw 7.5 - His kicking went out of play too often but an assured display which gave confidence to the rest of the side

Kilgour 8 - back to his best
Taylor 8 - a little unlucky with the penalty but a commanding performance
Harries 7 - reasonably solid but could of given away an early goal with a poor clearance. Another stupid booking.

Anderson 7.5 - a good hard working display. Final ball not always the best but a very good player for the team.
Whelan 7 - one sublime volleyed pass and generally effective. Thought that he was unlucky with the bookings.
Coutts 6.5 - one of his better games
Finley 7 - good performance but a few lapses
Grant 8.5 - a great attacking display. Unlucky to hit the inside of the post and took his goal well

Evans 7 - took his goal well. Can get even better.
Nicholson 6.5 - cannot fault the effort but lacking his usual talented skilful moments

Subs: Thomas 6 - did ok, nothing spectacular but his undoubted class gave the team confidence at the end
Anderton 7 - steady
Collins nole


Ref 3
Northampton 5

Belshaw 8 I thought great first min save and came out decisively after. I prefer his kicks into touch rather than to possibly to their player on pitch. No nonsense display.

Kilgour 8 solid performance although lost possession once.
Taylor 7 had torrid time from their centre forward, gave ref opportunity to give pen but made amends (apparently, I didn't see it was him) by clearance off line injury time.
Harries 8 absolutely solid but again took one for the team in booking.

Anderson 9 j m o m almost faultless display. Lovely assist, never stopped running, mostly fouled in possession and engine that covered everything.
Whelan 6.5 sending off almost cost us as he didn't have to slide in studs up.
Coutts 5 honestly don't know what he done apart from lose possession twice(?) Please tell me..
Finley 6 good running forward but lost possession easily, once it led to a break that countered dangerously.
Grant 9 j m o m best lwb performance since Leahy and unlucky not to claim 2 goals. Great running and finding space, he was a constant threat all match.

Evans 8.5 took his goal well as was checked on ankle just before, but never gave up running.
Nicholson 8.5 chased every lost cause, especially 2nd goal, ran ragged and pushed on to their defence from the first min. Made some ground, worked hard.

Subs: Thomas 8 took into the Evans/Nicholson role and looked dangerous finding space along last defence line.
Anderton 7.5 shored it up to a back 4.
Collins nole.


Ref 1 in the end I thought he lost it....but first half I could see why he made the decisions he did, even reversing a throw in to us because Northampton tactics were to use half the pitch in advance. Tried to let the game flow, but he had the absolute right to second book Whelan for studs up sliding challenge, and if it was our player standing leg taken out in box, who wouldn't shout for pen? ...but when Anderson was through and pulled back (which was happening regular) more bookings for them should be given, why book Whelan?
Northampton 5 we didn't let them play, pushed 2 up front, kept width and pace and they really didn't have an answer. Interesting their lethargic keeper of first half had to be told by ref to speed it up, didn't need reminding after we were winning? Or their number 17 didn't go down like he had rickets of the leg second half? Total sh!te from them and they got what they deserved.

Well done JAB for the win.
Just shows what keeping 2 up front and pressing can really do (bring in the wing backs because defence is too busy) so please ditch the 1 up front (or 3) and perserve with 2 up front in this division.

Belshaw 8.5 so fast off his line and so commanding. Only marked down for his kicking

Kilgour 8.5 solid
Taylor 8.5 solid other than diving in for the pen
Harries 8 solid apart from the odd standard shaky moment

Anderson 8.5 what an engine and some better final balls
Whelan 6 didn’t actually see the sending off so hard to pass judgement
Coutts 7 a bit better than usual today
Finley 7 some good some bad
Grant 9.5 an immaculate wing back performance

Evans 8 beautifully taken goal
Nicholson 7 lots and lots of running

Subs: Thomas 7.5 looked classy when he came on
Anderton 8 his experience shone through today. Class act
Collins na


Ref 1 good first half then completely lost control
Northampton 4 not sure how they’re anywhere near the top

Belshaw 8. Kicking was poor at times but he started the move for the winning goal by playing the ball round an attacker, where most keepers would have opted to just blast the ball into the car park.

Kilgour 8
Taylor 8
Harries 7.5

Anderson 8
Whelan 7
Coutts 7
Finley 8
Grant 9

Evans 8
Nicholson 7

Subs: Thomas 7
Anderton 7
Collins NOLE


Ref 2
Northampton 4. Did not look like a team that had won 5 on the bounce. Also, embarrassing time wasting in the FIRST HALF after they scored.

Results in and Josh Grant was Man of the Match with a score of 8.58.

The starting XI average was 7.32, the highest of the season and the highest since the Doncaster home game last season.

Belshaw 7.5

Kilgour 7.4
Taylor 7.5
Harries 7.3

Anderson 7.8
Whelan 6.5
Coutts 6.4
Finley 7.0
Grant 8.6

Evans 7.6
Nicholson 7.0

Subs: Thomas 6.5
Anderton 6.9
Collins 5.0

Ref 2.3
Northampton 4.7