Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans proud of his team’s punch at home

Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans could not contain his pride after his side claimed their 11th straight home win with a 1-0 victory over Exeter in Sky Bet League Two.

Rovers forward Fabrizio Cavegn scored an acrobatic effort midway through the second half to decide the contest.

Evans said: “We were in control of the game today, we could have got a second, and a third, and a fourth.

“We had to play through some gritty moments, seven or eight behind the ball and countering, and there’s nothing wrong with that when it’s effective.

“We needed to step up and create a moment, a special moment, it gave us all a special place in history.

“It was a fantastic overhead kick, and we probably should have scored more afterwards.

“Cavegn was frustrating us at half-time because he wasn’t getting in those areas of the pitch, my words were hard at half-time.

“You cannot coach the instinct that Fabrizio has, he’s an important player for us going forward.

“I’m so proud of the boys for creating history for the club, and guess what? When we’re back here in two weeks time, the league leaders are coming.

“I haven’t got to say it in a few weeks because Bristol City have been doing well, but tonight, the city is blue.”

The first half contained few chances but the only dangerous efforts came from the hosts, before the Grecians came out of their shell at the start of the second half.

Exeter are still without a point away from home so far this season, but manager Matt Taylor felt that today was an opportunity to set that right.

“I’m massively frustrated; we were more than in that game,” he said.

“The stress we put ourselves under with our lack of guile, quality, and decision-making in the opposition half with the ball has hurt us.

“We controlled large parts of the game with the ball to a certain point, but haven’t worked their box or their goalkeeper.

“We defended our box well, we got hold of the ball, we progressed the ball, but then you were left wanting more.

“I’ve got to add attacking set-pieces to that because too many attacking set-pieces ended up in a counter-attack against.

“It’s inexperience within the group, I understand that, and the pressure of the game really does tell.

“We’re playing stressed at the moment. I still believe there’s so much more to come with the ball and so much more to come in terms of our chance creation and goal output.

“My biggest frustration was that it was a missed opportunity.

“I’d just love us to be a team that stays in the final third for longer because we’ve got enough quality.”