Bristol Rovers v Leeds match prompts huge police presence

Bristol Rovers' clash against Leeds United passed off quietly amid a big security operation around the Memorial Stadium.

The police presence in the Horfield and Bishopston area of the city was visibly stepped up before and during the match last night.

There were several police vans, increased foot patrols and officers on horseback on Gloucester Road as fans made their way to the match.

But, in contrast to the trouble that broke out in the area before and after the teams' meeting in March this year, this time police said the fans were well-behaved.

There were two arrests – one for a drunk and disorderly fan inside the stadium, and the other for what police described as a "non-football related offence" – but it was generally a very quiet night.

Leeds supporters queued alongside Gas fans outside fast food outlets on Gloucester Road, chatting to officers.

After the match, which Rovers lost 4-0, Leeds fans were loaded onto coaches waiting outside the stadium. Most of the police presence was stood down at about 10.45pm.

Avon and Somerset Police spokesman Simon Whitby said: "All in all, it was an incredibly smooth operation. It was a very quiet night, with just two arrests."

Roger Thayer, Avon and Somerset Police's force football officer, was on duty last night and said: "The fans were very good despite the score. Everyone left in a good-natured manner. Everyone has behaved themselves apart from the arrests."

Bristol Rovers spokeswoman Kirsty Pugh said: "The atmosphere inside the stadium was good, and fans on both sides were well-behaved.

"It was a Help For Heroes night and we were fundraising – maybe that made fans think that there is more to life than footballing rivalry."

Last night's events were a contrast to the clubs' previous meeting at the Memorial Stadium in March, when Gloucester Road was brought to a standstill by hordes of fans and trouble broke out close to the junction with Sommerville Road and Berkeley Road, in Bishopston.

There were reports of trouble outside the Queen Vic pub and at The Foresters before kick-off and a number of pubs near the Memorial Ground were "trashed" following the match, with five arrests were made for public order offences, including affray.

One Rovers fan was given a three-year banning order after being caught on camera hurling missiles at police at The Rising Sun pub before the match.

There was also trouble elsewhere in the city, with two Leeds fans launching a vicious attack on a man in his 50s in a betting shop in St Augustine's Parade because he sneezed after they walked in.