‘So yeah, we, probably go away in reflection, thinking we should win the game, but we’ve come a long way in a three, four-month period, and I certainly wish Notts County every success.’

18:14, 02 May 2026Updated 22:50, 02 May 2026

(Image: James Holyoak/PA Wire)

Steve Evans said that his team have “come a long way in a three, four-month period” after Bristol Rovers finished the 2025/26 League Two season with a 1-1 draw against Notts County.

Nick Tsaroulla gave the hosts the lead at half-time, but Steve Evans responded with a double change at the break. Just before the hour mark, Ellis Harrison scored his seventh goal in the last five games, as the Gas extended their unbeaten run to nine and ended the campaign in 14th. Meanwhile, the hosts will face Chesterfield in the play-off semi-finals.

Speaking about the final-day draw, Evans said: “Yeah, I think it was important for everyone fighting for that automatic place. Cambridge, Salford, and obviously Notts County, so it was important we came here and demonstrated by performance, that we were active and keen to win the game, and, if you base it on possession, Notts County win, if you base it on clear-cut chances, we win by far. I mean, four or five, good clear cut chances.

“So it’s a difficult place when you go behind here, and you need a reaction. We should score twice, very quickly, from Shaq and from Promise.

“And then we said we were going to go with a different style, in a certain part of the game, I just expediated when we were going to change to that style, we changed it, and it looked like Notts County were a counter attacking team, and we were totally dominant, got a great goal, brilliant ball from Tommy, great finish from Ellis.

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“And then we make two or three really good chances to win the game, and, apart from that, and then a bit of sloppy play from one of our strikers, who come off our bench, trying to be Ronaldo in his own box, and knees the ball away, but they’re offside.

“So yeah, we, probably go away in reflection, thinking we should win the game, but we’ve come a long way in a three, four-month period, and I certainly wish Notts County every success.”

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We reported yesterday that Luke Thomas is set to leave the club, ending a three-year permanent stay in BS7. When asked about Thomas, Evans said: “Yeah, he’s a cheeky little reporter him, isn’t he? Tends to hear things. Yeah, listen, I expediated a lot of the meetings last week with different players, and Luke has done really well for us in spells when he’s come on. More importantly, he’s a good kid.

“We felt we had to just go in a different direction. He’s been at the club a little while now, and it’s never been big performances from the Gas, not from him because he’s contributed, can probably name the games, where he’s come on and made a real difference for us. So, him amongst a few, we’ll wish him good luck.”

It’s been well-documented that there will be meetings on Monday to decide the future of some players and Evans also discussed what is set to be a busy day at The Quarters.

“Yeah, there’s only a few to do, Monday,” the 63-year-old said. “I’ve expediated most of them, so, the fans won’t need to second guess a lot of them, obviously our loan players will all return to their parent clubs, and they’ll go where they go.

“And we’ll continue to talk to the ones we’d like to keep. And, of course, there’s the players inside the football club who may have a contract and we’ll respect that contract going into the next season, but it’ll be made absolutely clear on our website, Monday or Tuesday, that they need to move on, because they’re not going to play here.

“They’ll be treated properly, but they’re just not in my vision to play.”

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Rovers now have to wait until August 14 for the start of the 2026/27 season where promotion will be the aim for Evans’ side.

The fixtures will be released for the new campaign on Thursday, June 25 at 12pm.

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