'Yeah, I think we were found wanting individually in defensive areas.'
Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans was disappointed with "individual errors" after the Gas suffered a 3-2 defeat against York City in their opening game of the 2026/27 League Two season.
Clinton Mola gave Rovers the lead in the first half, but Scott Lindsey's side responded with two quick goals in three minutes after the break. Alex Newby levelled on the hour mark before Harry Boyes put the hosts in front.
Tommy Leigh looked like he had given the Gas a point in the 79th minute after scoring from the penalty spot, but Boyes doubled his tally moments later to give the Minstermen all three points and end a nine game unbeaten run in League Two for the Gas.
Evans said: "Yeah, listen, if you go away from home in any game in the Football League, and you make big individual errors, you're going to concede goals, aren't you.
"I think we were second best in a lot of areas all over the pitch, for long spells today. But the game always comes down to goals, and easily, it's individual errors for each of the goals.
"We concede bad individual errors as well. So individuals will take culpability when we break it down to the boys on Monday.
"We never lacked effort and spirit and trying, and I think we went in front, against the run play, totally. But then we probably had our best spell for 10, 15 minutes.
"We had a little spell again after we equalised in the second half with the penalty from Tommy. But you can't defend like that and win football matches, because it's just not right."
The 63-year-old added: "Yeah, I think we were found wanting individually in defensive areas. We had some really good performances today.
"I thought young Keenan Gough was sensational. I thought he was head and shoulders above anything in the whole of York. Doesn't matter whether you're a fan or a player. But we need more of that.
"And then I thought, we worked hard, and we worked bright, but we got into counter attacking areas, four v threes, three v twos, we didn't take advantage of it, and the difference with those boys is, they took advantage when we made an error. They capitalised."
Next up for the Gas is their first home league game of the season, with Newport County making the short trip to The Mem.
The Exiles opened their League Two campaign with a 3-0 win against Rochdale, and will be keen to improve on their recent record against Rovers, which has seen them lose the last three head-to-heads.
"Yeah, listen, they've had a brilliant result, as well, Newport," Evans said when discussing next week's game. "It's going to be a different Newport this season. I think it's really tough.
"If you look around the league today, it's probably the top four or five favourites, have lost. So it shows you there's no easy games, particularly in the opening weeks of the season, if you just glance at the results in League One and the Championship as well.
"Nobody would have thought that Bristol City would have lost at home. That's me just saying it because they're in the same city as us, if you look at the results.
"But we have to just look after ourselves, cut out the individual sins.
"It's cardinal sins for me, it's cardinal mistakes in the pitch. If you cut them out, we've got more than enough."
Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans was disappointed with "individual errors" after the Gas suffered a 3-2 defeat against York City in their opening game of the 2026/27 League Two season.
Clinton Mola gave Rovers the lead in the first half, but Scott Lindsey's side responded with two quick goals in three minutes after the break. Alex Newby levelled on the hour mark before Harry Boyes put the hosts in front.
Tommy Leigh looked like he had given the Gas a point in the 79th minute after scoring from the penalty spot, but Boyes doubled his tally moments later to give the Minstermen all three points and end a nine game unbeaten run in League Two for the Gas.
Evans said: "Yeah, listen, if you go away from home in any game in the Football League, and you make big individual errors, you're going to concede goals, aren't you.
"I think we were second best in a lot of areas all over the pitch, for long spells today. But the game always comes down to goals, and easily, it's individual errors for each of the goals.
"We concede bad individual errors as well. So individuals will take culpability when we break it down to the boys on Monday.
"We never lacked effort and spirit and trying, and I think we went in front, against the run play, totally. But then we probably had our best spell for 10, 15 minutes.
"We had a little spell again after we equalised in the second half with the penalty from Tommy. But you can't defend like that and win football matches, because it's just not right."
The 63-year-old added: "Yeah, I think we were found wanting individually in defensive areas. We had some really good performances today.
"I thought young Keenan Gough was sensational. I thought he was head and shoulders above anything in the whole of York. Doesn't matter whether you're a fan or a player. But we need more of that.
"And then I thought, we worked hard, and we worked bright, but we got into counter attacking areas, four v threes, three v twos, we didn't take advantage of it, and the difference with those boys is, they took advantage when we made an error. They capitalised."
Next up for the Gas is their first home league game of the season, with Newport County making the short trip to The Mem.
The Exiles opened their League Two campaign with a 3-0 win against Rochdale, and will be keen to improve on their recent record against Rovers, which has seen them lose the last three head-to-heads.
"Yeah, listen, they've had a brilliant result, as well, Newport," Evans said when discussing next week's game. "It's going to be a different Newport this season. I think it's really tough.
"If you look around the league today, it's probably the top four or five favourites, have lost. So it shows you there's no easy games, particularly in the opening weeks of the season, if you just glance at the results in League One and the Championship as well.
"Nobody would have thought that Bristol City would have lost at home. That's me just saying it because they're in the same city as us, if you look at the results.
"But we have to just look after ourselves, cut out the individual sins.
"It's cardinal sins for me, it's cardinal mistakes in the pitch. If you cut them out, we've got more than enough."
Related Coverage
- York City v Bristol Rovers: League Two stats & head-to-head â BBCRovers beaten by York in five-goal fixture
- BBCRovers beaten by York in five-goal fixture â Bristol Rovers Football Club
- York City 'really good' as Scott Lindsey celebrates first win as head coach â The York PressBristol Rovers enter a new era - and how to follow every step with Bristol
- Live â bristolpost.co.uk
