Evans blasts Forde following red card

BRISTOL Rovers boss Steve Evans branded Shaq Forde’s sending-off against Bromley on Boxing Day as “atrocious” after the red card proved the turning point in the League Two clash, writes Will Murray.

- Will Murray

Jack Sparkes and Fabrizio Cavegn had put Rovers into a two-goal lead in a dominant first-half performance at the Memorial Stadium, but after Forde’s needless dismissal, goals from Nicke Kabamba and Ben Thompson (2) completed a remarkable second-half comeback for the visitors.

Speaking about the red card for Forde, right, Evans said: "I think that's three times in 12 months the kid’s got sent off. Far too many.

“He's a wide player with purpose, pace and power. He shouldn't be getting yellows, never mind red cards. It’s a silly first booking, and then the second one’s atrocious.

"I think you could probably ask any supporter walking out of the stadium where the game changes and it changes on 53 minutes,” Evans said when asked about the overall performance. “When Shaq goes in and commits a silly foul.