EFL derby looms as Rovers boss confronts mounting pressure

Bristol Rovers entered the season buoyed by expectations of automatic promotion in League Two. Early form suggested a title challenge, with four wins from their first five fixtures and manager Steve Evans enjoying a 15‑win run from 19 league games since taking charge in December 2025.

However, a sharp downturn has seen Rovers slip to 16th place, securing only one victory in their last seven matches and suffering four consecutive defeats.

Evans described the strain as “causing a lot of sleepless nights,” revealing that he and his assistant Paul Raynor have been in phone conversations as late as 03:00. “Let’s not get carried away with stats. We will bounce back for sure,” he added.

The club looks to turn the tide against Swindon Town, managed by former Rovers legend Ian Holloway. The sides are level on 15 points, with Swindon occupying 15th on goal difference. Swindon recently ended an eight‑match winless streak with a 3‑1 victory at second‑placed Barnet, a result that surprised many observers.

BBC Sport will provide live text coverage of the weekend’s EFL fixtures, beginning with Bolton v Middlesbrough on Friday (20:00 BST) and continuing throughout Saturday’s matches across the Championship, League One and League Two.

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