# 2020–21 Bristol Rovers F.C. season

The 2020–21 Bristol Rovers F.C. season was the 138th edition in Bristol Rovers F.C. history and the fourth consecutive season in EFL League One, Along with League One, the club contested the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
The season covered the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 18 July 2020 | CB | Josh Grant | Chelsea | Free transfer |
| 20 July 2020 | CB | Jack Baldwin | Sunderland | Free transfer |
| 21 July 2020 | CB | Max Ehmer | Gillingham | Free transfer |
| 22 July 2020 | LW | Sam Nicholson | Colorado Rapids | Free transfer |
| 29 July 2020 | CF | Jonah Ayunga | Havant & Waterlooville | Undisclosed |
| 3 August 2020 | CM | Zain Westbrooke | Coventry City | Undisclosed |
| 25 August 2020 | CB | Pablo Martinez | West Bromwich Albion | Free transfer |
| 28 August 2020 | LB | David Tutonda | Barnet | Free transfer |
| 10 September 2020 | CF | Brandon Hanlan | Gillingham | Free transfer |
| 8 October 2020 | CM | Ben Liddle | Middlesbrough | Undisclosed |
| 16 October 2020 | LW | Ryan Jones | Weston-Super-Mare | Undisclosed |
| 22 October 2020 | LB | Ali Koiki | Burnley | Free transfer |
| 21 January 2021 | RB | George Williams | Milton Keynes Dons | Undisclosed |

### Loans in

| Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date until |
| 8 August 2020 | AM | Jayden Mitchell-Lawson | Derby County | 17 December 2020 |
| 21 September 2020 | CM | Luke McCormick | Chelsea | End of season |
| 15 October 2020 | AM | Erhun Oztumer | Charlton Athletic | End of season |
| 4 January 2021 | GK | Joe Day | Cardiff City | End of season |

### Loans out

| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date until |
| 11 September 2020 | GK | Liam Armstrong | Salisbury | 21 October 2020 |
| 11 September 2020 | CF | Ollie Hulbert | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 1 January 2021 |
| 11 September 2020 | CF | Harry Warwick | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 1 January 2021 |
| 8 October 2020 | LW | Kyle Bennett | Grimsby Town | End of season |
| 9 October 2020 | CF | Kieran Phillips | Chippenham Town | 1 January 2021 |
| 13 October 2020 | CM | Lucas Tomlinson | Bath City | 2 January 2021 |
| 16 October 2020 | LW | Ryan Jones | Weston-Super-Mare | End of Season |
| 21 October 2020 | GK | Alexis André Jr. | Salisbury | 9 January 2021 |
| 23 October 2020 | CB | Pablo Martinez | Oxford City | 23 January 2021 |
| 23 October 2020 | CM | Abu Ogogo | Dagenham & Redbridge | 11 January 2021 |
| 24 October 2020 | LB | Sam Heal | Melksham Town | |
| 31 October 2020 | DF | Luca Hoole | Taunton Town | December 2020 |
| 20 November 2020 | CM | Tom Mehew | Bath City | 9 January 2021 |
| 18 January 2021 | CB | Tom Davies | Barrow | End of Season |
| 26 January 2021 | LB | Michael Kelly | Yeovil Town | End of Season |
| 24 April 2021 | CM | Lucas Tomlinson | Torquay United | End of Season |

### Transfers out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 July 2020 | DF | Josh Bailey | Unattached | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CM | Ollie Clarke | Mansfield Town | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2020 | CM | Lewis Clutton | Pen-y-Bont | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Tony Craig | Crawley Town | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | FW | Isaiah Crawford | Unattached | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | MF | George Fowler | Unattached | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | LB | Tareiq Holmes-Dennis | Retired | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Rhys Kavanagh | Retired | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CM | Samuel Matthews | Crawley Town | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | DF | Ben Morgan | Unattached | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Tom Nichols | Crawley Town | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | DF | Luc Noble | Unattached | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | DF | Levi Paul | Unattached | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | MF | Mason Raymond | Unattached | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Gavin Reilly | Carlisle United | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CM | Liam Sercombe | Cheltenham Town | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | GK | Harry Thomas-Barker | Barry Town United | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CM | Theo Widdrington | Lewes | Released |
| 16 July 2020 | RB | Harry Hodges | Dorchester Town | Free transfer |
| 28 July 2020 | CB | Rollin Menayese | Mansfield Town | Undisclosed |
| 3 August 2020 | CM | Luke Russe | Chippenham Town | Free transfer |
| 27 August 2020 | CF | Jonson Clarke-Harris | Peterborough United | Undisclosed |

## Pre-season

Rovers announced their first pre-season game on 7 August 2020 that would see the first-team play the following day in a behind closed doors friendly against Bristol Manor Farm. They later announced a second fixture against Exeter City.

## Competitions
### EFL League One
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 17 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 50 | 57 | −7 | 54 | |
| 18 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 53 | 80 | −27 | 53 | |
| 19 | AFC Wimbledon | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 54 | 70 | −16 | 51 | |
| 20 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 54 | 77 | −23 | 48 | |
| 21 | Rochdale (R) | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 61 | 78 | −17 | 47 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 22 | Northampton Town (R) | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 41 | 67 | −26 | 45 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 23 | Swindon Town (R) | 46 | 13 | 4 | 29 | 55 | 89 | −34 | 43 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 24 | Bristol Rovers (R) | 46 | 10 | 8 | 28 | 40 | 70 | −30 | 38 | Relegation to EFL League Two |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 9 May 2021. Source: BBC

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A |
| Result | D | L | L | W | W | D | W | L | D | L | L | L | D | L | W | W | L | W | L | L | L | D | L | L | D | L | W | L | L | W | L | L | W | D | L | L | L | L | L | W | D | L | L | L | L | L |
| Position | 11 | 20 | 24 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |

#### Matches

Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed
The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August.

### FA Cup

The draw for the first round was made on Monday 26, October. The second round draw was revealed on Monday, 9 November by Danny Cowley. The third round draw was made on 30 November, with Premier League and EFL Championship clubs all entering the competition.
Win  Draw  Loss

### EFL Cup

On 18 August 2020, the first round was drawn.
Win  Draw  Loss

### EFL Trophy

Win  Draw  Loss
The regional group stage draw was confirmed on 18 August. The second round draw was made by Matt Murray on 20 November, at St Andrew's. The third round was made on 10 December 2020 by Jon Parkin.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L1 | Oxford United | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 8 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 5 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L2 | Walsall | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | ACA | Chelsea U21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 2 | |

## Statistics

    Players with squad numbers struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
    Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Bristol Rovers.
    As of match played 9 May 2021
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | NED | Jordi van Stappershoef | 13 | 0 | 6+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Mark Little | 7 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Luke Leahy | 44 | 10 | 37+1 | 8 | 2+0 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Josh Grant | 39 | 1 | 31+1 | 1 | 1+2 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | GER | Max Ehmer | 33 | 2 | 27+1 | 1 | 3+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Ed Upson | 33 | 1 | 20+6 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Ben Liddle | 6 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Zain Westbrooke | 49 | 3 | 33+9 | 2 | 2+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Brandon Hanlan | 48 | 9 | 40+4 | 7 | 2+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 |
| 10 † | FW | ENG | Jayden Mitchell-Lawson* | 7 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | SCO | Sam Nicholson | 34 | 8 | 22+7 | 6 | 2+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Joe Day* | 20 | 0 | 18+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Luke McCormick * | 42 | 6 | 36+3 | 6 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Alfie Kilgour | 44 | 2 | 33+2 | 1 | 2+1 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | ENG | James Daly | 32 | 4 | 13+15 | 3 | 1+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Cameron Hargreaves | 17 | 0 | 3+9 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | KEN | Jonah Ayunga | 35 | 3 | 13+17 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 1 |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Josh Hare | 27 | 2 | 14+5 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 3+2 | 1 |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Tom Mehew | 3 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 2 |
| 24 | DF | COD | David Tutonda | 22 | 0 | 10+10 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | WAL | Cian Harries | 32 | 0 | 26+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Jack Baldwin | 45 | 2 | 32+6 | 1 | 3+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Zain Walker | 15 | 0 | 4+7 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 29 | FW | ENG | Kieran Phillips | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 32 | GK | FIN | Anssi Jaakkola | 24 | 0 | 21+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | ENG | Alex Rodman | 18 | 1 | 11+5 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | WAL | Pablo Martinez | 8 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 39 | MF | IRL | Josh Barrett | 11 | 0 | 0+9 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 41 | MF | TUR | Erhun Oztumer * | 25 | 1 | 10+12 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 42 | MF | ENG | Abu Ogogo | 4 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 43 | DF | ENG | George Williams | 26 | 0 | 26+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 47 | DF | ENG | Ali Koiki | 13 | 1 | 3+7 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 |
| 51 | GK | ENG | Jed Ward | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| Players out on loan: ||||||||||||||
| 18 | DF | SCO | Michael Kelly | 3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |

### Goals record

    As of match played 9 May 2021
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | League One | FA Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | Total |
| 1 | 3 | | LB | Luke Leahy | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2 | 9 | | CF | Brandon Hanlan | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | 11 | | LW | Sam Nicholson | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | 14 | | CM | Luke McCormick | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | 17 | | CF | James Daly | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | 8 | | CM | Zain Westbrooke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | 21 | | CF | Jonah Ayunga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 | 5 | | CB | Max Ehmer | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | 15 | | CB | Alfie Kilgour | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | 22 | | RB | Josh Hare | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 | 23 | | CM | Tom Mehew | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | 26 | | CB | Jack Baldwin | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | 4 | | DM | Josh Grant | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | 6 | | DM | Ed Upson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | 33 | | RM | Alex Rodman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | 41 | | AM | Erhun Oztumer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | 47 | | LB | Ali Koiki | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 40 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 58 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of match played 9 May 2021
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | League One | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy | League Trophy | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | 14 | | CM | Luke McCormick | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 6 | | CM | Ed Upson | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | 3 | | LB | Luke Leahy | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 4 | | DM | Josh Grant | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 26 | | CB | Jack Baldwin | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 5 | | CB | Max Ehmer | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | 25 | | CB | Cian Harries | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 15 | | CB | Alfie Kilgour | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 24 | | LB | David Tutonda | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 9 | | CF | Brandon Hanlan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 32 | | GK | Anssi Jaakkola | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 43 | | RB | George Williams | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | 11 | | LW | Sam Nicholson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | 20 | | CM | Cameron Hargreaves | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | 21 | | CF | Jonah Ayunga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | 22 | | RB | Josh Hare | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | 33 | | RM | Alex Rodman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | 41 | | AM | Erhun Oztumer | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | 42 | | CM | Abu Ogogo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | 2 | | RB | Mark Little | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | 13 | | GK | Joe Day | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | 17 | | CF | James Daly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | 37 | | CB | Pablo Martinez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 72 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 1 | 2 |