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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Sam Frost

Bristol Rovers player ratings vs Sheffield Wednesday: Aaron Collins and Luca Hoole impress

James Belshaw - 6

Saved well from Dennis Adeniran but was beaten by a precise strike from Barry Bannan that nestled just inside the post before Akin Famewo doubled the lead, forcing home from a corner where the entire defensive unit needed to do more. His searching long ball with his first action after half time got the Gas back in the game, claiming a second assist of the season as Collins finished the chance after bursting in behind.

Jarell Quansah - 5

Showed signs of rust after serving a three-game suspension, with a loose pass playing Ward into trouble in the build-up to the game's opening goal. Got his head on the corner that led to the second and he needed to do more than send it vertically into the air. Still, you'd hope your teammates would help you out in that situation but Famawo was allowed to fashion a shot and double the lead. Atoned early in the second half by snuffing out a big chance for Lee Gregory before coming up with some crucial defensive headers.

James Connolly - 6

Endured some awkward moments in the first half and the entire team will be fuming with the manner of the second goal, but Connolly was not as culpable as his defensive partners when it came to individual errors. Still, he was replaced at the break to enable a change of shape.

Lewis Gibson (c) - 6

Has been so reliable, but he got away with a mistake early doors by getting a header back to Belshaw all wrong, allowing Michael Smith to steal in and round the keeper, but fortunately, the striker ran the ball out of play. Steadied himself thereafter up against a very useful forward line.

Luca Hoole - 7

His attacking skills have come on leaps and bounds and the way he storms onto the ball when driving upfield is so pleasing on the eye. Effective, too. Delivered well from right and stuck to his task as a wing-back in the first half and right-back in the second.

Grant Ward - 6

Was played into trouble by Quansah's slack pass and he could not recover with Wednesday ruthlessly capitalising. Was having a decent game, seeing plenty of the ball, but was among the trio of players replaced at half time.

Lamare Bogarde - 6

Smooth again in midfield, spraying the ball with accuracy and tempo, particularly in the first half. Looked dangerous when he looked to run with the ball, too, but his influence faded as the game wore on and he was replaced. Will have learned a huge amount from the past few games.

Lewis Gordon - 6

Another solid showing from the youngster, with the Owls' threat out wide handled pretty well throughout, but he was another to be sacrificed for an attacker as the Gas chased a leveller.

Aaron Collins - 7

Was on the periphery in the first half but was immediately into the action after the break, showing his blistering speed on the resumption, stealing in behind Dominic Iorfa to latch onto Belshaw's long ball and steering it into the bottom corner.

Ryan Loft - 6

Posed a physical challenge for the Owls' defence and he got into a couple of decent positions in the left channel, but he could not quite make the most of them and was withdrawn at the interval as Barton reshaped his attack.

Josh Coburn - 6

Battled hard without much reward. His physicality made a greater impression as the game went on, but clear-cut chances proved to be elusive for the big lad, with Aden Flint racking up several clearing headers when Coburn was the target. Had Cameron Dawson concerned with a rasping shot from range that deflected wide.

Substitutes

Antony Evans (for Ward on 46') - 7

Acquitted himself well off the bench again. Delivered several dangerous crosses but Flint was dominant in the air and cleared much of the danger Evans created. Not far wide with a strike from distance.

Scott Sinclair (for Connolly on 46') - 5

Quiet upon his introduction, unable to make a dent in a stubborn Owls defence

Sam Finley (for Loft on 46') - 6

Got on the ball often and tried his best to unlock the door, but the Wednesday back three held firm under pressure.

John Marquis (for Gordon on 74') - 6

Had the ball in the net but he was flagged offside.

Harry Anderson (for Bogarde on 88') - N/A

Subs not used: Jed Ward, James Gibbons.

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