Bristol Rovers beat Walsall 2-0 at The Mem to secure back-to-back wins – here’s how we rated the players
Full-time celebrations from Alfie Kilgour of Bristol Rovers during the Sky Bet League 2 Match between Bristol Rovers and Walsall at Memorial Stadium on 3 February 2026. Photo: Kara Thomas/PPAUK(Image: Kara Thomas/PPAUK)
Bristol Rovers secured back-to-back league wins for the first time since September, thanks to a 2-0 victory against Walsall at The Mem.
Yusuf Akhamrich and Kofi Balmer scored the goals for Steve Evans’ side, as they picked up a deserved win to lift themselves to 19th in League Two. They now sit seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Bristol Live’s Bristol Rovers writer Will Murray gives his verdict and ratings on the Gas players…
READ MORE: Bristol Rovers ease relegation fears after second successive winREAD MORE: ‘We stepped up after the interval’ – Steve Evans praises Bristol Rovers’ second half performance after Walsall winBrad Young – 7.5
Brad Young made three saves to keep his second consecutive clean sheet, including a second-half stop to deny Daniel Kanu. He stood firm under Walsall’s pressure from set-pieces and even looked calm with the ball at his feet. Young continues to impress since coming in for Luke Southwood at Salford City.
Kofi Balmer – 8.5
I remember there were some sceptics concerning the signing of Balmer following his display at right-back against Salford a few weeks ago. He has been outstanding in the last two games and looks especially comfortable at right centre-back, which he spoke to us about post-match.
His goal was an absolute beauty and capped off a committed defensive display that saw him win nine duels and three important tackles. Balmer was fully deserving of the clean sheet and was arguably Rovers’ man of the match.
Alfie Kilgour – 8
Alfie Kilgour looks to be so comfortable in the middle of Rovers’ defence right now. He answered any questions that came his way, winning four out of five aerial duels and dealing with the threat of Kanu throughout. Keeping him fit for the remainder of the season will be key as he’s such a good operator at this level.
(Image: Kara Thomas/PPAUK)
Riley Harbottle – 8
Riley Harbottle is the final member of the back three, and he was also brilliant. Not only was he good with his feet, but he also dealt with the aerial threat of the opposition and looked so comfortable alongside Kilgour. A really astute signing, who will only get better as he continues to gain more experience.
Yusuf Akhamrich – (off for Joel Senior, 83′) – 8
What a player Akhamrich is. He struggled to get into the game in the first-half, but when Shaq Forde laid the ball to him just after the hour mark, there was only one outcome. The Tottenham Hotspur loanee is such a talented player and already looks to be building a promising attacking partnership, alongside Forde. Three goals in two games for the 20-year-old. Impressive.
Jack Sparkes – 7
Jack Sparkes was solid defensively on the right-hand side for the Gas, dealing with the threat of Connor Barrett, who struggled to make anything happen for the visitors. His reliability on the left, with Akhamrich’s star quality on the other side, gives Rovers a perfect balance, especially in the 3-4-1-2 system.
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Ryan De Havilland – 7.5
Despite a couple of sloppy moments in the first-half when he gave the ball away, Ryan De Havilland was impressive in the middle of the park for Rovers, alongside Clinton Mola. He has added a calmness and a presence in the centre, with his passing range on display when he delivered a lovely, driven cross to Sparkes just after the break, only for the left-back to be denied by Myles Roberts.
Clinton Mola – 8.5
Part of a new head coach’s remit is to improve what you’ve already got. Evans has certainly done that with Mola, who thrived in the middle for Rovers for the third consecutive game. The 24-year-old is an active player who always looks to win the ball back and kickstart attacks. His skillset suits the defensive midfield role and he was outstanding again.
Shaq Forde – 8
Forde’s blend of creativity and work rate make him the perfect number ten for an Evans side. He put the ball on a plate for Akhamrich’s opener and pressed with such intent to pin Walsall in, especially in the second-half. Evans was full of praise for the 21-year-old post-match, saying that he has been “absolutely stunning since I walked in the building”.
(Image: Kara Thomas/PPAUK)
Fabrizio Cavegn – (off for Mees Rijks, 87′) – 7
Like in every match, Fabrizio Cavegn worked tirelessly to make things happen. He struggled to get into the game, with his only shot straight at Roberts. The Swiss striker consistently ran the channels for the Gas, and works so much better with a target man alongside him.
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Ellis Harrison – (off for Taylor Moore, 90+5′) – 8
Evans confirmed after the game that the Walsall manager, Mat Sadler, came up to him and said, “How good was Harrison?” Ellis Harrison’s hold-up play was so impressive, and the fact that he won eight aerial duels on the night highlights just how good he was.
After only four minutes, a long ball was lofted towards him, and he brilliantly took it down before giving it to Forde, who eventually took a shot on goal. He did that a few times on the night, and it is precisely what Rovers miss when he’s out – a striker who can pin a centre-back and bring the talented players like Forde into the game. A great display from the number 19.
Substitutes:Joel Senior – N/AMees Rijks – N/ATaylor Moore – N/AREAD MORE: ‘Big Club with big ambitions’ – Richie Smallwood’s first words as Bristol Rovers third Deadline Day signingREAD MORE: ‘It was a no-brainer’ – Joe Quigley’s first words after Bristol Rovers Deadline Day signing