Bristol Rovers lost 1-0 against Colchester United in League Two – here’s how we rated the players
BRISTOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 17: Joel Senior of Bristol Rovers and Harvey Araujo of Colchester United in actionduring the Sky Bet League Two match between Bristol Rovers and Colchester United at Memorial Stadium on January 17, 2026 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Simon Galloway/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)
Bristol Rovers suffered an eighth consecutive home league defeat against Colchester United, who won 1-0 thanks to an 85th-minute strike from Owura Edwards.
The visitors had the better chances in the game, with Samson Tovide and Micah Mbick, both coming close, including when the latter struck the post just before the hour mark. Edwards then stepped up in the closing stages to inflict another painful League Two defeat on the Gas.
Bristol Live’s Bristol Rovers writer Will Murray gives his verdict and ratings on the Gas players…
READ MORE: ‘I don’t think we were ourselves today’ – Steve Evans reacts to eighth consecutive home league defeat for the GasREAD MORE: ‘The manager has tried to sign me a few times’ – Riley Harbottle’s first words as Bristol Rovers playerLuke Southwood – 6
Luke Southwood pulled off a crucial save in the 32nd minute to deny Tovide, who had found space just inside the box. He couldn’t do much about the winner from Edwards, which was a brilliant strike.
Joel Senior – (off for Kofi Balmer, 59′) – 5
After some positive performances in recent weeks, this wasn’t Joel Senior’s best game. He didn’t look comfortable on the ball, and his first-half booking affected him after the break. Kyreece Lisbie easily went past him in the 57th minute, with the winger finding Mbick inside the box, whose backheeled effort hit the post.
Riley Harbottle – (off for Tom Lockyer, 66′) – 6.5
A very solid debut from Riley Harbottle, who dealt well with the threat of Mbick, alongside Alfie Kilgour. It was unfortunate to see him go off injured in the 68th minute, and let’s hope it’s not too serious, as the early signs were promising.
Riley Harbottle of Bristol Rovers during the Sky Bet League 2 Match between Bristol Rovers and Colchester United at Memorial Stadium on 17 January 2026. Photo: Geraint Nicholas/PPAUK(Image: Geraint Nicholas/PPAUK)
Alfie Kilgour – 6.5
Like Harbottle, Kilgour was one of the better Rovers players on the afternoon. He had a lot of duels with Mbick, who is a handful. In fact, the 27-year-old won all three of his aerial duels and looked comfortable alongside the new signing.
Jack Sparkes – 6
A mixed game for Jack Sparkes, who has been under Steve Evans. He nearly found Fabrizio Cavegn in the first-half with a floated cross in the 40th minute, which went just over the Swiss striker’s head. His delivery wasn’t as good as it has been in previous games, though, with Evans remarking after the game that “Sparkesy was not so good today in his forward areas. I thought he was poor today by his standards because his standards, as he displayed the last three or four games – Tom Cleverley spoke about him – he’s been outstanding.”
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Kamil Conteh – 5.5
Like Sparkes and Senior, Kamil Conteh has been positive under Evans, but wasn’t at his best today. It was an unfamiliar midfield three, with Rovers struggling to get a foothold in the match throughout. The 23-year-old will probably think he should have done better for the goal as well, allowing Edwards to cut in with relative ease before scoring past Southwood.
Ryan De Havilland – 5.5
Ryan De Havilland started nervously but gradually improved, especially in the second half. His set-piece deliveries looked dangerous on occasions, but they didn’t result in anything against a resolute Colchester defence.
Ryan De Havilland of Bristol Rovers battles for the ball with Micah Mbick of Colchester United during the Sky Bet League 2 Match between Bristol Rovers and Colchester United at Memorial Stadium on 17 January 2026. Photo: Geraint Nicholas/PPAUK(Image: Geraint Nicholas/PPAUK)
Kane Thompson-Sommers – (off for Ellis Harrison, 59′) – 5.5
Kane Thompson-Sommers also came straight into the starting lineup like Harbottle and struggled to make an impact. After only a day of training with his teammates, a rusty performance was probably to be expected by the likes of Thompson-Sommers and De Havilland.
Shaq Forde – 6.5
Shaq Forde made a brilliant tackle in the 82nd minute to deny Edwards, who was seemingly through on goal. He wasn’t at his fluid best in an attacking sense today, but the 21-year-old has recovered excellently since that red card against Bromley. In fact, Evans remarked post-match that Forde was a “real threat” when he had the ball and was always the most likely out of the front three to create something in a cagey game.
Luke Thomas – (off for Isaac Hutchinson, 78′) – 6
Like Forde, Luke Thomas worked hard defensively but struggled to make an impact in the attacking half. Evans said after the match that “I don’t think LT, Luke Thomas had his best of games today.” Still, the 26-year-old has looked bright in recent weeks, and his off-the-ball work was a positive again.
Fabrizio Cavegn – 5.5
It wasn’t Cavegn’s best game in a Rovers shirt, as he struggled to get on the end of a lot of long balls directed towards him in the first-half, especially. He was up against Harvey Araujo, who was very composed for the visitors and never really looked like adding to his goal tally.
Fabrizio Cavegn of Bristol Rovers during the Sky Bet League 2 Match between Bristol Rovers and Colchester United at Memorial Stadium on 17 January 2026. Photo: Geraint Nicholas/PPAUK(Image: )
Substitutes:Ellis Harrison – 6.5
Evans was very complimentary of Ellis Harrison, saying: “I think the only time we had a 10, 15 minute maximum, probably 10, 12 minutes, maximum that we had in the game is when we brought Ellis [Harrison] on, and he was a real handful for them. But again, we went away from playing good balls into him and trying to hit hopeful balls, and that doesn’t work.”
Rovers lofted a lot of aerial balls towards Cavegn in the first-half, and the shift towards two strikers after the break certainly gave Colchester something different to think about. He has to be in contention for a start at Salford City next week.
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Kofi Balmer – 6
Came on at right-back and while his long throws didn’t cause much panic in the Colchester defence, he combined well with Forde on a couple of occasions. He will also be hopeful of a start next week after a solid cameo.
Tom Lockyer – 6.5
“I think Tom Lockyer did really well when he came in,” Evans said after the game. “I think he brought a real steeliness to us when he came on the pitch.” Tom Lockyer came on for Harbottle for the last 24 minutes and looked comfortable at centre-back. If the new signing is injured, he’s certainly put himself in contention for a start.
Isaac Hutchinson – 6
Isaac Hutchinson was so unlucky not to score the equaliser in added time when his right-footed effort struck the crossbar. Given that the midfield three didn’t look fluid at all, Hutchinson will also have his eye on a return to the starting lineup against Salford.
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