Bristol Rovers Reaction

Following the draw against Bristol Rovers, here is the reaction from Kevin Bond on the Clubs Official Web Site: "It was a typical FA Cup tie with chances either end. It was a terrific game, but not for the purist as the pitch didn't allow it. Both teams had a go and we were happy to be back in the game having being a goal down. When you go a goal behind four minutes into injury time from a ridiculous penalty, how he could have got out the way I'll never know, but they had two better shouts in the second half. The one he gave looked a useless decision. It can hit your hand all day long, but if isn't intentional it isn't a penalty. The lad was a yard away and it can't just hit his hand, it has to be intentional. It frustrates us as I thought we were the better side".

On their penalty ....... "They'd be delighted with that as they got the benefit and we didn't, where those extra minutes came from I don't know, but I'm happy we're in the hat and think we more than deserved it. I'm delighted with how they responded in the second half. We deserved the equaliser and went on to try and win it. He's [James Hayter] scored today and scored in the last round so hopefully that's an omen for the replay. At the moment we haven't got many recognised strikers so I'm glad Fletch was fit. He came through for us which is all credit to him and he gives all he has".

The Rovers manager, Paul Trollope, speaking on their official site, was quoted after the match as saying: "I think it was a fair result in the end, we started strongly, they came into it with a few good efforts in the first half, and then we grew against towards half-time and went ahead with the penalty. The second half they came out and had a good spell, but to be honest once they got their goal, we recovered well and enjoyed most of the play in the last 15 minutes or so. We showed commitment and desire right to the end, our energy levels were good, we just couldn't quite get the goal we were looking for. But I am proud of my players because they did well today, and these three games we've had this week have been testing. But their energy levels and their commitment were there until the last minute in every match, and we'd have taken these results at the start of the week. Bournemouth were a good test for us, but I don't think we looked like a team in a division below them, We equipped ourselves well and some of our play was very good".