Bristol Rovers claimed a second straight pre-season victory on July 11, edging past Salisbury FC 3-2 at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium. Fabrizio Cavegn, Ben Purrington and Mees Rijks scored for the Gas, who now occupy 14th in League Two with 62 points from 46 games, 25 points behind table-toppers Bromley.
What formation did Evans roll out?
Steve Evans reverted to a 3-4-1-2 at Salisbury after using a 4-2-3-1 at Weston-super-Mare earlier in the week. The first-half back three featured Kofi Balmer, Alfie Kilgour and Ben Purrington, with Macauley Southam-Hales and Clinton Mola as the wing-backs. After the interval, Tom James, Riley Harbottle and Ciaran Kelly started in defence, while Rijks and Bobby Kamwa took the wing-back berths.
Rovers controlled much of the second half thanks to Rijks and Kamwa’s energy on the flanks. Paul Raynor, the assistant manager, said Jack Sparkes missed the game with a tight hamstring but the issue wasn’t serious. Raynor noted the second half was far more controlled, with Rovers creating plenty of chances but needing to be more clinical in front of goal.
Where do Rovers need to tighten up?
Evans’ back three relies on wing-backs who can surge forward and recover defensively. Rijks and Ollie Dewsbury played at right wing-back on Saturday, roles that aren’t their natural fits. If defensive errors creep in, the whole system can tilt out of shape. Raynor admitted the first half was disjointed, but the second half saw Tommy Leigh, Ryan De Havilland and Jack Aitchison link well in midfield, causing Salisbury real headaches.
The Gas conceded two early goals at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium, but Evans’ side responded with three of their own. Their recent run of three wins and two draws in five matches leaves them unbeaten in that span, yet the narrow victory underlined areas to sharpen before the 2026/27 season opener.
Who’s arrived and who’s left?
Two players have left BS7 this summer: Kamil Conteh joined Bromley and Jed Ward signed for Walsall. Meanwhile, Evans and Raynor confirmed the club is still chasing incomings after eight summer signings. Raynor told Bristol Live they’re “still looking to strengthen,” with the transfer window open until September 1.
Conteh and Ward’s departures leave gaps to fill, especially in defence. Evans may yet add a right centre-back to bolster the back three, where Rijks and Dewsbury’s versatility can’t always cover every scenario. The squad now has 62 points from 46 games and a goal difference of minus nine, so every new arrival must add quality without upsetting the rhythm built in pre-season.
Rovers’ next task is converting these promising displays into points when League Two returns. Their unbeaten streak in five shows progress, but the narrow win at Salisbury proves they still need to cut out defensive slips and finish chances more ruthlessly.
