Full-time: Bristol Rovers 2, Bradford City 1
Goals from Lee Brown and Eliot Richards gave Bristol Rovers victory over 10-man Bradford City as the Pirates finally chalked up back-to-back wins for the first time since April.
The result made it two wins out of two for new Gas manager Mark McGhee, in charge for his first home game since succeeding former boss Paul Buckle.
Brown gave Rovers a flying start when he fired home the opener in the sixth minute, and Richards broke away to net with a low shot early in the second half – scoring for the second game in a row.
The Bantams had Rob Kozluk sent off for a second caution in the 65th minute, but still pulled a goal back seven minutes later when David Syers forced the ball home from close range.
Brown's early breakthrough came with an angled shot from 12 yards after being left unmarked following a bout of head tennis in City's penalty box.
Chris Zebroski could have extended the lead in the 34th minute but sent an angled shot straight at keeper Jon McLaughlin, and the visitors looked fortunate not to concede a penalty shortly before the break.
Richards appeared to be tripped in the box by Craig Fagan, but referee Chris Sarginson waved away appeals for a spot-kick.
Bradford had another escape when McLaughlin spilled a Dorman shot and Gill fired wide from the edge of the box in the last action of the opening period.
The visitors rallied at the start of the second half, but found themselves further in arrears in the 55th minute when Andrew Davies lost possession and Richards broke clear to find the net with a low shot.
Kozluk departed after catching Richards on the head with his arm – although it appeared to be accidental and the Bradford defender could count himself slightly unlucky.
But the visitors showed they were not prepared to accept defeat when Syers struck from close range to set up a tense closing period.
Rovers could have re-established their two goal cushion when a shot from Richards hit a post – with Cian Bolger just failing to steer the ball home.
But keeper Michael Poke denied Bradford a late equaliser when he clawed away a goal-bound header from Davies - and Zebroski was extremely lucky not to concede a stoppage-time penalty when a challenge on substitute Kyle Reid somehow went unpunished.
Bristol Rovers: Poke, Woodards (McGleish 15), Downes, Bolger, Smith, Richards, Stanley, Gill, Brown, Dorman, Zebroski. Subs: Cronin (gk), Anthony, Swallow, McGlaggon.
Bradford City: McLaughlin, Kozluk, Bullock, Davies, Seip, Syers, Atkinson (Reid 60), Ravenhill, Wells (Smalley 60), Hanson, Fagan. Subs: Duke (gk), Jones, Taylor.
Attendance: 6,164.
23 Comments
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by THEIRONS
Monday, January 30 2012, 8:46PM
“Congrats on yet another win-at this rate the play off's are more than just pie in the sky.”
by nearlyaGhead
Monday, January 30 2012, 5:02PM
“You Rovers fans must think Christmas has come. 2 games under McGhee, and 6 points. Certainly the referee was feeling generous to you, not awarding Bradford, a nailed on penalty right at the death. However, you would say, it was pay back time, for the dodgy penalty they got at Bradford.
Maybe it was the presence of Father Christmas, and his reindeers, in the South Stand, that help gift you the points !? Either that, or Ken Loach ( also in the South Stand, THE PLACE TO BE !), had brought you some cinematic magic.( Why wasn't he watching Bath City ? )
All in all, 10 points, out of 12, since Buckle left makes him look a right pudding.
Happy times
PS. It was nice to see the return, of that well known 'comedy troupe' the Blue Flames :-) Poor things posing on the pitch, in the freezing cold, waiting in vain, for their music to start. A place at the Edinburgh fringe awaits.”
by chinesegas
Monday, January 30 2012, 1:06PM
“well jimmy looks like stoke are trying to help , by sending us a midfielder c0urtesy , john rudge and tony pulis , saw both of them play for us , funny we got rudge from torquay.wish we had pulis playing now totaly uncompromising.”
by JimmyMcnulty
Monday, January 30 2012, 12:05PM
“I was concerned about how far we were pushing back, not having anyone up front when they were taking a corner etc. Am hoping this was just a blip or a 'needs must' tactic due to our lack of pace in midfield with all the injuries, as opposed to a permanent tactic.
One thing hasn't changed, neither Stanley or Dorman are remotely good enough- another central midfielder is needed ASAP.”
by chinesegas
Monday, January 30 2012, 10:58AM
“jimmy ,as you rightly said we did not play that well ,and had injuries , apart from loosing woodards early in the game ,since buckle has gone the defence is organised ,not just the back 4/5 , we would have lost this match ,against 10 men or 11 a few weeks ago ,if you think about it sawyer was injured could not start ,woodards comes off , total reorganising on the pitch, since north , and now mcghee, have been doing the job big improvement , and most of the players are buckles appointments , he must be thinking how did he get it so wrong .it must have been down to his man management all of it .and whilst the supporters do not know everthing, you can scence when there are problems maybe its the players body language.anyway were past that now, lets do aldershot !”
by JimmyMcnulty
Monday, January 30 2012, 9:50AM
“A win's a win, but let's not kid ourselves this was just as bad a performance as a lot of the dross under Buckle- still we had a lot of injuries and we are now as close to the play offs as we are relegation.”
by GasDownUnder
Monday, January 30 2012, 9:08AM
“Hang on guys I did hear that PB has written a book called "Football a Success Story" it has been recognised as the shortest book in history along with the Italian Book of War Heroes.
ARBIE - Fair call but if you are a striker then its your job to hit the target but like I said ugly works for me. More signings to come, what percentage will be coming from the North of the Border from the old pals act!!!!!”
by manchestergas
Sunday, January 29 2012, 8:00PM
“Kyngsmeadboy - no way, we don;t want any 'mgr of the month' awards. The last time we got it (Trolls in Sept 2009?) we went on a spectacular losing streak and ultimately that led to 2 awful years.
Buckle got sacked from Tesco for using too much hair gel and becoming a fire hazard. He certainly couldn't get the Gas on fire though...”
by RichmondGull
Sunday, January 29 2012, 1:59PM
“Is it coincidence that following his departure from the three league clubs Paula Buckle was associated with, those teams have done quite well?
Exeter promoted to League 1 after he left
Torquay in the play-offs after he left
Bristol Rovers moving up the table as soon as he left.
So, that could well be good news for any club considering taking him on. Hire him, then fire him!”
by RichmondGull
Sunday, January 29 2012, 1:47PM
“LondonGas. Good one, that means he will only work three months of the year. So what's new !!”