Match ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Bristol Rovers 3.
CheltenhamCheltenham Town1Bristol RoversBristol Rovers3
Bristol Rovers ended a seven-match scoring drought in style with a comfortable 3-1 win at relegation-threatened Cheltenham.
Scott Sinclair opened the scoring in the first half, with Brandon Aguilera and Elkan Baggott adding two more after the break before Liam Sercombe's stoppage-time consolation for the hosts.
Rovers skipper Antony Evans also saw a first-half penalty saved, but Cheltenham offered very little as their survival chances suffered another major blow.
Sinclair opened the scoring in the 12th minute, finishing neatly past Luke Southwood and inside the bottom left corner after being played in by Luke Thomas.
Evans was brought down in the box by Southwood 10 minutes before half-time, but the goalkeeper redeemed himself by diving to his left to keep out the spot-kick.
Cheltenham, managed by ex-Rovers boss Darrell Clarke, made two changes at half-time, but they were not able to find a way back into the game and it was 2-0 in the 56th minute.
Thomas found substitute Aguilera and he rolled a shot into the bottom right corner.
Former Cheltenham loanee Baggott headed the third from Harvey Vale's corner in the 76th minute.
Sercombe was set up by fellow ex-Rovers player Matty Taylor in the 94th minute, but it was too little, too late for Cheltenham.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Cheltenham
Formation 3-1-4-2
- 1Southwood
- 5SmithBooked at 7minsSubstituted forSercombeat 62'minutes
- 33Davies
- 14ShepherdBooked at 13mins
- 34PettSubstituted forHarropat 18'minutesSubstituted forTaylorat 45'minutes
- 2Long
- 23Bonds
- 7Kinsella
- 15FerryBooked at 90mins
- 19LloydSubstituted forNuttallat 45'minutes
- 10KeenaSubstituted forThomasat 62'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Sercombe
- 9Taylor
- 17Olayinka
- 21Pardington
- 25Harrop
- 26Nuttall
- 27Thomas
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 33Cox
- 42HuntBooked at 62mins
- 5WilsonSubstituted forTaylorat 83'minutes
- 26Baggott
- 19Vale
- 8WardSubstituted forAguileraat 22'minutes
- 14RossiterSubstituted forContehat 51'minutes
- 11Thomas
- 21Evans
- 7Sinclair
- 18Martin
Substitutes
- 3Gordon
- 10Aguilera
- 17Taylor
- 22Conteh
- 23McCormick
- 30Hoole
- 31Ward
- Referee:
- Paul Howard
- Attendance:
- 5,501
Match Stats
Home TeamCheltenhamAway TeamBristol Rovers
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home2
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home19
- Away11
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Cheltenham Town 1, Bristol Rovers 3.
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Foul by Matty Taylor (Cheltenham Town).
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Elkan Baggott (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Jack Shepherd (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Luke Thomas (Bristol Rovers).
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Offside, Cheltenham Town. Matty Taylor is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Matty Taylor (Cheltenham Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jack Shepherd with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Matty Taylor (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is just a bit too high.
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Attempt blocked. Matty Taylor (Cheltenham Town) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Liam Sercombe.
Goal!
Goal! Cheltenham Town 1, Bristol Rovers 3. Liam Sercombe (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Will Ferry.
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Scott Sinclair (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Will Ferry (Cheltenham Town).
Booking
Will Ferry (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card.
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Brandon Aguilera (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Matty Taylor (Cheltenham Town).
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Foul by Joe Nuttall (Cheltenham Town).
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Jack Hunt (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joe Nuttall (Cheltenham Town).
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Harvey Vale (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Comments
Join the conversation
To be fair it was a much improved performance and great to see other players apart from Martin getting on the scoresheet.
Three very welcome points but I fear for Cheltenham. We were at a low ebb but the home side barely threatened until the last few minutes. Don’t think DC can save them, sadly.
UTG!