Bristol Rovers boss hammers ‘atrocious’ Portsmouth League One title winner as relegation fears intensify
Jack Sparkes registered 43 appearances during Pompey’s League One title-winning campaign.
A former Pompey title winner has been branded ‘atrocious’ after a disappointing display for Bristol Rovers.
Jack Sparkes was a regular fixture in John Mousinho’s League One title winning-side at Fratton Park, which saw him amass 43 appearances during his sole-season on the south coast.
There were plenty of eyebrows raised following his shock departure in July 2025, just 12 months into a two-year deal at PO4 despite playing a crucial role in the Blues’ promotion.
But 19 months after his surprise exit from Fratton, the 25-year-old is already onto his third different club as he looks to reignite the impressive form previously seen for Pompey.
The left-back’s troubles appear to be continuing, having come under immense scrutiny from boss Steve Evans following the Pirate’s 3-1 defeat to promotion-hopefuls Cambridge United on Saturday.
The frustrating loss at The Abbey heaped more pressure on Bristol Rovers, with fears of back-to-back relegations mounting.
Rovers currently sit 21st in League Two and are just five points above the bottom two, having won just three of their previous 21 matches.
For Sparkes, it represented his 27th league start of the season so far after establishing himself as first choice under Evans and his predecessor Darrell Clarke.
Former Pompey man hammered by Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans
But it was a display which came under fire from the 63-year-old, with the full-back also earning his 10th yellow card of the season to date.
This means the ex-Pompey man will be banned for Rovers’ next two games, including Tuesday’s crucial game against Oldham Athletic.
And that has drawn huge criticism from Evans, who blasted Sparkes’ showing at The Abbey on Saturday.
Speaking to Bristol Live, the Rovers boss said: ‘He deserves to go. He was atrocious today, anyway. He wouldn't have played at Oldham.
‘So, there we go. So he's out for Tuesday, doesn't matter to me, because he wouldn't have played anyway. He was atrocious.
‘Yusuf (Akhamrich) has many plaudits and Jack Sparkes, too, but they didn't help the middle three, who were having a very difficult afternoon by their own standards and their own performance levels.’
Jack Sparkes’ Pompey career
Sparkes arrived at Fratton Park in June 2023 as one of 14 new signings made by John Mousinho in his first summer window in the Pompey hot-seat.
In Connor Ogilvie’s absence, the left-back provided brilliant cover when required and went on to amass 43 appearances.
But it was his crosses which earned the most plaudits and totalled eight assists during his sole-season on the south coast.
Just 12 months into his two-year deal, though, Sparkes departed PO4 following the Blues’ promotion to the Championship - making a permanent switch to Peterborough United.
The former Exeter City man made just 28 outings for Posh before joining League Two Chesterfield in January 2025.
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