Bristol Rovers praise after coming through 'entertaining' cup tie

“Yeah, a job that needed to be done tonight, and we’ve done it, albeit in again entertaining fashion,” Jon Stead said when asked about the victory.

22:37, 02 Dec 2025Updated 22:51, 02 Dec 2025

=Bristol Rovers head coach Darrell Clarke (Image: Kieran McManus/EFL)

Bristol Rovers assistant head coach Jon Stead praised his side after an “entertaining” Vertu Trophy tie, which saw the Gas win 4-2 on penalties after they had squandered a 2-0 lead in normal time.

Ellis Harrison scored a first-half brace for Rovers, but second-half goals from Kelland Watts and Sullay Kaikai pegged the hosts back. Luke Southwood then saved two penalties in the shootout, with Kamil Conteh scoring the winning spot-kick to book Rovers’ spot in the next round.

“Yeah, a job that needed to be done tonight, and we’ve done it, albeit in again entertaining fashion,” Stead said when asked about the victory.

“Not so much for us sat in the dugout, but I’m sure in the stands it was an entertaining game. But yeah, like you say, the job was to get through to the next round, and we’ve done that.”

Despite Rovers having a two-goal lead at the break, Cambridge looked dangerous and had six shots before the break without testing Southwood.

Speaking about the first-half performance, Stead said: “I don’t know, I didn’t actually think we played very well in the first-half, so I think we had moments where we opened them up and I think on the break that we were quite effective but I wouldn’t say I felt comfortable in the first half, and then I think we had a lot of planned changes that we needed to make. We’ve had illness in the camp.

“We’ve had lads, obviously coming back from injury and managing the minutes to make sure that we can get them prepared as well as we can do for Saturday, another really big game. So the performance probably married that a little bit, a little bit disjointed, a little bit bitty, you know, a couple of people coming in and out, playing out of position and stuff.

“So it probably served up what, what it was, you know what I mean? So, yeah, and I think that probably showed more in the second half than the first.”

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Stead also gave an injury update on Macauley Southam-Hales, who went off with an injury during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against Notts County.

Speaking about Southam-Hales’ fitness, Stead said: “Yeah, he’s alright. He’ll have a scan, and we’ll have a look and assess it and then make a call from there. He was moving better yesterday. So hopefully, fingers crossed it’s not too bad news, really.”

Next up for the Gas is a trip to League One Port Vale in the FA Cup as they look to continue their excellent run of form in cup competitions.

OPINION

Bristol Rovers praise after coming through ‘entertaining’ cup tie

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