Bristol Rovers celebrate Steve Evans contract with sixth straight win

Steve Evans marked his new contract by leading in-form Bristol Rovers to a 3-1 win over relegation-battling Crawley in League Two.

Rovers recorded a sixth straight victory on a day when Rovers chairman Hussain AlSaeed took to the pitch minutes ahead of kick-off to announce a new deal for manager Evans until 2028.

Ellis Harrison gave the Gas the lead against the run of play in the 26th minute. Kofi Balmer fed the striker on the edge of the penalty area and the 32-year-old rolled marker Charlie Barker before firing under goalkeeper Jacob Chapman.

January signing Mees Rijks scored his first goal for Rovers in the 30th minute as the Dutch striker prodded home from off the floor after initially fumbling Joel Senior’s unselfish square pass.

Crawley, who were looking for a third win in four to move clear of the relegation battle, scored with 10 minutes to go when Louie Watson blasted in after collecting a flicked pass from Louie Copley.

Rovers were reduced to 10 men when substitute Tom Lockyer was sent off for bringing down Harry McKirdy on the edge of the penalty area with a minute of regular time to play.

But Yusuf Akhamrich ran in from halfway to seal the game with a chip over Chapman in the fifth minute of stoppage time.