Bristol Rovers sunk by Pilkington and Huddersfield

Full-time: Bristol Rovers 1 Huddersfield Town 2. Bristol Rovers' hopes of reaching a top-10 place in League One tonight were shattered as Huddersfield Town came back from behind to claim victory at the Memorial Stadium.

The Terriers' man of the match Anthony Pilkington was the inspiration for their victory.

Not only was he a thorn in the Pirates' side all night, but the £250,000 signing from Stockport scored Town's leveller and set up a winner for Danny Cadamarteri 12 minutes from time after Jo Kuffour had fired Rovers into the lead early in the second half.

Although Rovers had slightly the better of the chances on the balance of play, Huddersfield always looked capable of causing problems going forwards.

And so it was to prove as they maintained a record which has not seen them lose at the Pirates for more than 20 years.

Rovers made one change from the side that had started the 2-0 weekend win over the Hatters. Ryan Green returned at right-back following his recovery from a knee injury, and Aaron Lescott dropped to the bench.

The Pirates again began with a 4-3-3 formation, top scorer Rickie Lambert playing a withdrawn role behind fellow strikers Darryl Duffy and Kuffour.

It was Lambert who was instrumental in setting up the home side's first shooting opportunity when an astute pass presented Craig Disley with the chance to advance.

But keeper Alex Smithies had plenty of time to size up the midfielder's shot from 20 yards and made a comfortable low save.

Pilkington sent a shot a yard wide of Steve Phillips left-hand post before Huddersfield survived a scramble on the edge of their six-yard box in the ninth minute.

Lambert, Kuffour and Duffy were all involved, but could not get a clean shot away as the Terriers' defence closed them down.

Michael Flynn sent a 22-yard snapshot over the bar as Huddersfield glimpsed a 15th-minute half-chance, but it was Rovers who almost made the first breakthrough after 20 minutes when Lambert fed Kuffour, who unleashed a fierce shot on the turn which Smithies did well to beat out.

Huddersfield were causing problems too and when Pilkington sped past Joe Jacobson and delivered a dangerous pass, it needed a good intervention by Steve Elliott to deny Gary Roberts.

Then, as Rovers broke, Chris Lines aimed a useful angled pass towards Duffy, but the striker failed to bring the ball under control and it ran out for a goal kick as home fans started to get frustrated.

The Pirates weren't holding the ball well enough up front and a lack of width also hampered their attempts to unlock the visitors' defence.

They did threaten again from a Stuart Campbell free-kick three minutes before the break. It was nodded across goal by Duffy but Byron Anthony was pipped to the ball by Andy Butler at the expense of a corner, which came to nothing.

Then, seconds before the interval, Lambert saw a 25-yard free-kick deflected just over the top by a defender – but the half-time whistle blew before Rovers could take the resulting corner.

The Pirates made a change for the start of the second half with Jacobson, who had been given an uncomfortable 45 minutes by the dangerous Pilkington, making way for Lescott.

And two minutes later the home side took the lead. A throw-in from the left was played into the danger area by Lambert, and Kuffour controlled the ball on his chest before firing a shot over his shoulder and in off the far post.

Disley had a chance to add a second after 63 minutes but fired his shot from 14 yards into the ground and Smithies was able to save. Then a neat interchange between Lambert and Duffy saw the Scouse marksman's shot charged down.

Rovers' need for the cushion of a second goal became all too evident 20 minutes from time when Martin Kelly forged his way into the Rovers box.

The defence failed to clear their lines and the ball fell for Pilkington, who sent a beautifully-judged left-footed shot curling past Phillips and into the far corner.

Duffy saw a fierce strike beaten out by Smithies and Steve Elliott's snapshot following a corner also found the Terriers' keeper as Rovers tried to re-establish a lead.

But Huddersfield were to strike again in the 78th minute. Pilkington got the better of Green and his cross found Cadamarteri in plenty of space to head home from close range.

Rovers tried to snatch a leveller but Kuffour pulled the ball back beyond his team-mates and a Campbell free-kick struck Byron Anthony and flew up over the bar from two yards out.

Bristol Rovers (4-3-3): Phillips, R Green, Anthony, Elliott, Jacobson (Lescott 46), Disley, Campbell, Lines, Kuffour, Lambert, Duffy. Subs (not used): Hinton, Hughes, Hunt, St Louis-Hamilton.

Huddersfield (4-4-2): Smithies, T Clarke, Butler, N Clarke, Kelly, Goodwin, Collins, Flynn (Booth 68), Roberts, Cadamarteri, Pilkington. Subs (not used): Craney, Berrett, Booth, Ainsworth, Eastwood.

Attendance: 6,286.