Steve Evans has defended his decision to leave players out of the Bristol Rovers matchday squad, insisting selection is based on form not favourites. The Rovers boss spoke after Macauley Southam-Hales and Jack Sparkes were omitted from the squad for the win over Newport County following below-par performances at York City on the opening day.
Why were Southam-Hales and Sparkes dropped?
Evans confirmed both players were left out after disappointing displays in the 5-3 victory over York City, where Rovers kicked off their League Two campaign. He stated that selection decisions are made carefully and objectively, with no automatic inclusions regardless of reputation or past service.
What did Evans say about favourites at the club?
The manager suggested that previous Bristol Rovers bosses had favoured certain players who were always picked, but he rejected that approach. Evans said: "And perhaps it's been problems here in the past where managers have had favourites and they've always had to play." He added that he has never operated with favourites in his managerial career, citing Ivan Toney's rotation at Peterborough as an example of merit-based selection.
How is Evans managing squad depth this season?
Since taking over in December 2025, Evans has overseen a significant squad turnover, with nine players departing in the summer and 12 new signings brought in since May. Six of the seven transfer-listed players from May have left the club, including Taylor Moore and Josh McEachran who departed by mutual consent. Evans has also highlighted positive contributions from Mees Rijks, Joe Quigley, and Jack Aitchison in a midweek match against Cobham Next Gen.
What is Bristol Rovers' current form and league position?
The club are currently 10th in League Two with 3 points from 2 games, recording a 1W-0D-1L record and recent form of WL. They have scored 7 goals and conceded 6 this season, giving them a +1 goal deficit and leaving them 3 points behind leaders Barnet. Their next fixture is away at Fleetwood Town on 2026-10-31.
What does this mean for the Crawley Town match?
Bristol Rovers are aiming to secure back-to-back wins in League Two after their 5-3 triumph over Newport County. Approximately 2,000 fans are expected to travel to The Broadfield Stadium for the Saturday away match at Crawley Town, where Evans will continue to select based on performance. For updates on upcoming games, check our fixtures page, and to see how the squad is shaping up, visit our squad section.
