Bristol Rovers verdict: Ellis Harrison heroics, Evans in the crowd, 4-2-3-1 explained and post-January window table

Here are the main talking points from Bristol Rovers’ 4-0 win against Cheltenham Town

11:39, 26 Apr 2026

Steve Evans, Manager of Bristol Rovers in the stands celebrates a goal scored by Shaq Forde of Bristol Rovers during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham Town at Memorial Stadium, Bristol on 25 April 2026 (Photo: Rachel Le Poidevin/PPAUK)

Bristol Rovers now have the longest winning run and the longest losing run in League Two for the 2025/26 season. Already-promoted Bromley won seven in a row earlier in the campaign, but the Gas made it eight straight wins on Saturday with a 4-0 victory against Cheltenham Town.

It’s hard to describe how drastic the turnaround has been under Steve Evans. Seeing the manager walk into the Thatchers End was amusing to say the least, and for Rovers to score almost instantly after he joined the supporters behind the goal was the perfect ending to another brilliant day in BS7.

I always try to remind supporters just how bad it was in December when looking at scenes like yesterday. This team is unrecognisable to the side that lost 3-0 at home to Swindon Town – making it 10 consecutive league defeats.

Evans’ impact has been remarkable and for the first time in a couple of years, there is a sense of togetherness and, most importantly, hope at Rovers.

Here are the main talking points from the 4-0 win against Steve Cotterill’s side.

For the majority of this season, Fabrizio Cavegn has been Rovers’ top scorer in all competitions with 15. Ellis Harrison has edged ever closer in recent weeks, though, with six in the last four, including a hat-trick on Saturday. What a hat-trick it was. Two headers and an audacious lob from 35 yards put Rovers into a three-goal lead, and the 32-year-old is making a stronger case every week to get himself a new contract for next season.

Next weekend’s trip to Notts County could be Harrison’s last game in the blue and white quarters, but you’d like to think that the club are eager to extend his stay beyond the summer.

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As I’ve said before, the one concern you might have is Harrison’s injury record, which did affect him in the first half of the season, including when he missed all five matches in December. Under Evans, he has been in every matchday squad since the turn of the year, though, and looks irresistible at this level.

It’ll be fascinating to see how the manager sees the striker situation at the club for the 2026/27 campaign, especially given he currently has five options following Promise Omochere’s return to fitness.

(Image: Rachel Le Poidevin/PPAUK)

Whether a couple of these options leave and a couple forwards arrive is unknown, but one thing seems clear: It would be the wrong decision not to keep Harrison for another year.

The logic behind the 4-2-3-1, with Shaq Forde’s importance highlighted

Rovers started in a 4-2-3-1 shape in the first-half, with Yusuf Akhamrich and Promise Omochere as the two wingers, Shaq Forde as the number ten, and Harrison as the lone striker.

With Alfie Kilgour out until the end of the season, Evans continued with a back four, returning Richie Smallwood and Clinton Mola to the lineup as the two holding midfielders in front of the backline.

When asked by Bristol Live whether the switch to a 4-2-3-1 from the start was to get Akhamrich in the team, Evans said: “They play with a real talented boy who sits as the central midfield player who gets on the ball and when I’ve been watching them in recent weeks, I watched them last midweek – he was getting on the ball, Will, and dominating the game for long spells until Tranmere really got in their faces.

(Image: Rachel Le Poidevin/PPAUK)

“And I put Shaq Forde in there with a real purposeful role, so Shaq did a lot more defensively today for us than he did attacking, although he was good in spells in that area. When Cheltenham got possession, we nullified them. And we’re left with the central defenders on the ball, and with due respect, most times we got it back.”

While the 3-4-1-2 has been Evans’ favoured shape since arriving in mid-December, he has shown a willingness to try formations with a back four. The 4-4-2 diamond has its limitations, but the 4-2-3-1 used in the latter stages at Tranmere and during yesterday’s dominant win against Cheltenham is well balanced and suits this group of players.

The table since the January transfer window closed

Evans is always keen in pre- and post-match press conferences to stress that Rovers are at the top of the post-January transfer window table. In fact, on Thursday, he said: “In a meeting this morning with the players, I addressed them and said it’s a credit to them as a group and as men that we are top of the table since this group comes together.

“So, we’ve set a clear mandate that we want to be top of that table when we’ve played Notts County in two weeks’ time.”

(Image: Rachel Le Poidevin/PPAUK)

Following yesterday’s eighth consecutive league win, how many points are Rovers clear in the League Two table since the winter window closed on February 2? Here is a closer look at the top six.

1. Bristol Rovers – Played 17, won 12, drawn 1, lost 4, GD +14, Points = 372. MK Dons – Played 16, won 10, drawn 4, lost 2, GD +16, Points = 343. Grimsby Town – Played 17, won 10, drawn 3, lost 4, GD +15, Points = 334. Barnet – Played 17, won 9, drawn 4, lost 4, GD +9, Points = 315. Chesterfield – Played 16, won 9, drawn 4, lost 3, GD +7, Points = 316. Oldham Athletic – Played 18, won 9, drawn 3, lost 6, GD +11, Points = 30

With the Magpies still having a chance to clinch automatic promotion and the Gas only needing a point to top this post-January window table, next week’s game will certainly be competitive and one that Evans will be keen to win.

Why weren’t Kane Thompson-Sommers and Luke Thomas in the squad?

There were three notable omissions from the squad yesterday – Kane Thompson-Sommers, Luke Thomas, and Josh McEachran. Thompson-Sommers and Thomas will see their loan and contract expire at the end of the season, respectively, so are they no longer in the manager’s plans?

Bristol Live asked Evans why they were not included against Cheltenham. “Oh no, they’ll be back on the training ground this week,” he said. “You only have to look at who missed out last week, I know there was suspension last week with Tom Lockyer, but there’s other people missed out. The team will not be the team next week that we played today.”

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On the Monday post-Notts County, Evans said that it will be a “long day for myself and Paul and our Chairman and the Chief Exec,” as decisions are made on players’ futures at the club.

It looks unlikely that Thompson-Sommers and Thomas will be Rovers players next season and you’d imagine there might be a couple of surprises in terms of departures and incomings in the summer, as Evans looks to reshape the squad for a promotion campaign, starting in August.

Bristol Rovers verdict: Ellis Harrison heroics, Evans in the crowd, 4-2-3-1 explained and post-January window table

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