Morecambe v BRFC - Match Thread Saturday 28th January..

They’re lot singing can we play you every week 😂. Utterly pathetic and toothless performance. What has gone wrong with us ?

what a forkin joke....

£10 for that on iFollow. We should all get a refund on the basis Rovers we're not fit for purpose.

Which will it be this time?
1. Officials were sh*t.
2. Certain players simply not good enough, soon to be humiliated in public by the manager.
3. Barton accepts responsibility.

Just got back....

From ifollow.

Utterly embarrassing!
I feel sorry for the time and money invested by plenty of Gas..

What a shambles the defence, defending mid and some senior professionals served up there.
It's unacceptable.

My m o m was the referee whom seemed to get everything right including the penalty award, the non penalty award of Morecambe double fall over, and McCormick yellow card where he played advantage and could have booked another of ours.

Did the keep make more than 1 save?
(I remember Stockton through, he saved for corner).

JAB shocking and that's 0 points from 2 northwest clubs that don't even get half our attendance! Shameful..

Is this the spell where he becomes " under pressure" from the fan base, a rather poor winter period with no real sign of progress, with ,on today's show a team going nowhere

Stats: Morecambe 5 BRFC 1 - 32% - 68% - Shots 14-18 On Target 5-7 - Corners 3-8 - Referee: Will Finnie - Attendance: 4,259

A tough day at the office for Rovers.

ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/B4CC/production/_128448264_shutterstock_editorial_13744990t.jpg

Joey Barton made two changes from our last outing against Accrington Stanley. New signings Ellery Balcombe and Jarell Quansah made their Rovers debuts with James Belshaw and Luke McCormick named on the substitutes bench alongside January signing Grant Ward.

The start of the game created few clear-cut chances at goal. Morecambe’s Jensen Weir hit an effort from around 20-yards-out which proved to be no trouble for debutant Balcombe who watched on as the ball sailed over his bar.

Cole Stockton was well picked out with a long ball over the top of the Rovers defence. The striker controlled the ball with his chest and looked to hit his effort back across Balcombe’s goal. Rovers were back in numbers however and were able to block Stockton’s effort and see the ball behind for a corner kick.

Morecambe had the ball in the net on the 20-minute mark. Daniel Crowley’s effort from range bounced just in front of Balcombe with the Rovers goalkeeper unable to keep out the strike.

Antony Evans had his bending effort palmed away by Connor Ripley as the Gas pushed for an equaliser before the half-time interval. James Connolly was shown the first yellow of the clash after pulling back Stockton as Morecambe looked to attack.

Crowley's curling cross was deflected goalwards by Mellon, but the woodwork came to Rovers' rescue. Moments later, James Gibbons won the ball on the halfway line and looked to play in Josh Coburn who was peeling away from his marker at the back post. The ball was partly cleared by Morecambe and fell to Aaron Collins who hit effort on the half volley and which Ripley was able to tip onto the bar.

Liam Gibson was shown a yellow card just before the half-time interval after an over-the-ball challenge on Antony Evans.

Morecambe doubled their lead minutes after the restart. A free kick was swung into the Rovers box where Michael Mellon was on hand to bundle the ball past Balcombe.

It was three not long after. Donald Love put his laces through the ball, after neat play on the right-hand side of the pitch, and his shot flew past Balcombe and into the far side of the net.

The Shrimps had their fourth on the hour mark. Crowley found Stockton with a through pass and the Morecambe no.9 struck the ball with the outside of his boot past Balcombe and into the net.

Rovers were awarded a penalty kick after Josh Coburn was brought to the ground inside the Morecambe box. Scott Sinclair stepped up for Rovers and saw his spot-kick saved by Ripley to preserve his clean sheet.

The hosts had their fifth of the game in the 87th minute. Substitute Adam Mayor cut in from the left and past Quansah before firing a powerful effort past Balcombe.

Rovers had themselves on the scoresheet as we approached full-time. Aaron Collins finished past Ripley from 15 yards out to give the traveling Gasheads something to cheer about.

Next up for Rovers is the visit of MK Dons to BS7 on Saturday, 4th February (3pm).

Morecambe: Connor Ripley, Donald Love (c), Liam Gibson, Farrend Rawson, Daniel Crowley, Cole Stockton, Michael Mellon, Jensen Weir, Jacob Bedeau, Liam Shaw, Dynel Simeu.

Subs: Adam Smith, Ryan Delaney, Ash Hunter, Arthur Gnahoua, Jon Obika, Ryan Cooney, Adam Mayor

Rovers: Ellery Balcombe, James Connolly, Jarell Quansah, Sam Finley, Scott Sinclair, Aaron Collins, Paul Coutts (c), Antony Evans, James Gibbons, Luca Hoole, Josh Coburn.

Subs: James Belshaw, Grant Ward, John Marquis, Ryan Loft, Harry Anderson, Luke McCormick, Glenn Whelan.

Bristol Rovers player ratings vs Morecambe: Miserable afternoon as Gas ship five goals..

Ellery Balcombe - 4
Conceding a soft goal from the first meaningful shot you face is not an ideal start, but Balcombe could not keep out Dan Crowley's fierce strike which bounced awkwardly in front of him. From there, it was an afternoon of misfortune. He was beaten by a cruel deflection for the second and Donald Love's hit for the third was unstoppable. For the fourth, he may have wished he was off his line sooner to shut down Cole Stockton, but the fifth was a neat finish into the corner that he could not reach.

Luca Hoole - 4
Got into excellent positions early on, but did not make the most of his crossing chances and he was off target with a header just before the break. One of three men hauled off early in the second half.

Jarell Quansah - 6
The Liverpool prospect made a hugely impressive start to his senior debut. He was elegant, carrying the ball out of defence multiple times, and he displayed composure to play his way out of trouble under pressure from Michael Mellon. Despite the chaos around him, he was close to faultless until the dying embers, when he was beaten too easily by Adam Mayor for the fifth goal.

James Connolly - 4
Made a series of crucial blocks on an afternoon when the midfield in front of him was unable to provide anywhere near enough security. Looked like the man who deflected the all-important second goal into his own net.

James Gibbons - 4
His emotional gesticulations captured the mood. Busted a gut back and forth without much success and his slaps of the turf in frustration were understandable.

Paul Coutts (c) - 4
Struggled in the first half with Morecambe's playmakers playing off the back of Rovers' midfield duo to great effect, with Crowley, in particular, causing big problems. Coutts usually offers so much security in the heart of midfield, but he was short of his high standards here and he was withdrawn early in the second half.

Sam Finley - 4
In possession, Rovers' midfield lacked precision and control, and they were being exposed off the ball, too. Finley has turned in many fine performances for the Gas, but this was not one of them and he was taken off early in the second half.

Antony Evans - 5
A lively presence in the first half, producing one of Rovers' best moments when he chopped onto his left foot and forced a good save with a curling shot. His second half lasted just 12 minutes, though, after Rovers were blitzed by a rampant Morecambe.

Scott Sinclair - 4
A thorn in the left side of the Morecambe defence early doors, but Rovers failed to capitalise on those openings. Oversold himself in his attempts to cut out a short corner, allowing Donald Love to break in through the back door and apply a ruthless finish to make it 3-0. Sinclair did put a chance on a plate for Harry Anderson, who headed wide from close rage. A tame penalty miss from Sinclair summed up a grim afternoon.

Aaron Collins - 6
Looked capable in the first half without the service, but he made something for himself on the cusp of half time, controlling an awkward high ball and unleashing a volley that Ripley tipped onto the crossbar. Plugged away until the end and scored a consolation goal.

Josh Coburn - 5
Could not get into the game in the first half due to amid some physical from the Morecambe defence. Saw more of the ball after the break and he won a penalty, but it was already 4-0 by then. A day to forget.

Substitutes
Grant Ward (for Coutts on 57') - 5
Lost touch with Crowley for the fourth goal, but he looked decent om the ball and was unlucky not to score with a bullet from range that just cleared the crossbar.

Harry Anderson (for Evans on 57') - 5
Made an impact as he always does, but wasted a big chance to make it 3-1.

Ryan Loft (for Hoole on 57') - 5
Made things happen in the final third through perseverance, but the game was already gone.

John Marquis (for Coburn on 69') - 5
Tried to link the play to the very end without reward.

Luke McCormick (for Finley on 69') - 5
Got on the ball plenty, but the game was gone.