'Then we've just watched an absolute disgusting decision. I just looked at it back. It's just absolutely disgusting.'

Steve Evans described the referee's award of a penalty for Shrewsbury Town as a "disgusting decision," with Bristol Rovers suffering their third consecutive defeat in League Two - losing 1-0 against Gavin Cowan's side at the Croud Meadow.

The Shrews went ahead in the 77th minute through George Lloyd, who slotted home the spot-kick after Joe Quigley had committed a foul in the box, according to the man in the middle.

Shrewsbury then had Jay Turner-Cooke and Isaac Fletcher sent off for straight red cards, but the Gas were unable to find equaliser - making it five away defeats out of six in the league this season, and a fourth straight defeat in all competitions.

Reflecting on the latest disappointing afternoon on the road, Evans said: "Yeah, I think the game was a poor game, wasn't it? Even by League Two standards, it was two teams that are battling - they're battling for a win - we're battling for an away win.

"We just looked off it first-half. We made some changes. I think we're the better team in the second half without making chances, but we've commanded a bit more of the ball, kept more of the ball.

"Then we've just watched an absolute disgusting decision. I just looked at it back. It's just absolutely disgusting. We're getting this week on week now, so we just wonder what it's about, because we have last week confirmed that people should be sent off.

"Last week, we had confirmed that there were other penalties, and we should have penalties against us, and you look at that one today, and it's just got no place in football.

"And I can remember John Coleman - a good man said once that the referee's making him think about giving the game up.

"We've had it week after week now. And I'm fed up listening to the head of refereeing apologise. And then, you get fed up ringing them on a Saturday and Sunday."

Despite Evans' frustrations around the penalty decision, he noted that Rovers never made the goalkeeper make a save until Fabrizio Cavegn's effort deep into second-half stoppage time, which was the visitors' sole shot on target.

Rovers' next assignment sees them host Salford City, who are top of League Two and are considered by many as the favourites to win the title following a big summer of spending.

The Ammies lost their first three league games, but have won six of their next seven matches in the fourth tier since, giving them a one-point lead at the top of the table.

"And we play what many people say is the big team in the league, they're certainly the big spenders," Evans said when speaking about Tuesday's game.

"Everyone talks about the quality they've got. We're going to be fully tested, aren't we? We're in this situation where we need to put our best 11 on the pitch and ask our supporters to be the 12th man.

"I thought they were great today. I thought they were right behind us, even though we went one down. They're probably looking down the pitch, saying, they don't know if it's a penalty, because they're a long way away.

"I had to look at the video. I didn't see anything when I looked at the video. I just thought it was such an atrocious, atrocious thing to call."