Without a win in seven games and arriving at Exeter City on Saturday off the back of three consecutive defeats, Bristol Rovers needed to produce a response. Joey Barton's Gas could not get the win they craved – their own errors made sure of that – but they have plenty to build on thanks to Ryan Loft's stoppage-time equaliser at St James Park.
For much of Saturday afternoon, things were going exactly to plan for Rovers. After playing completely into Exeter's hands in a pair of Devon drubbings last season, they were much wiser this time. Exeter's weaknesses were preyed on by counter-attacks and the hosts were starved of any kind of momentum for long periods.
James Belshaw had not needed to make a save when John Marquis gave Rovers a deserved lead, tucking away Aaron Collins' brilliant cross just after the hour mark. Exeter did not appear to have any answers, so effective was Rovers' game plan.
