Late goals end Rovers’ long wait for away win

BRISTOL Rovers scored two late goals to claim a first away win in nine months as they came from behind to win at Walsall.

Kieran Phillips gave the Saddlers a half-time lead but Connor Taylor and substitute Sion Spence poked home from corners for Joey Barton’s Rovers.

Rovers went close to an early lead when Harry Anderson’s shot was brilliantly tipped wide by Walsall goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.

The Saddlers’ first threat was Phillips’ cross for Brendan Kiernan, who side-footed over first time from 10 yards under pressure.

But the same combination broke the deadlock on 32 minutes when Kiernan slid in Phillips to cut inside a defender and side-foot past Rovers keeper James Belshaw.

Walsall wasted chances to seal the points when Phillips and George Miller were both denied by Belshaw one on one.

They were made to pay on 79 minutes when Junior Brown’s near-post corner was flicked on for Taylor to stab home.

Spence turned home from three yards a minute into stoppage time before Ash Taylor blazed wide with a great chance to rescue a point for the Saddlers.

Walsall (1) 1 Bristol Rovers (0) 2

Walsall: Rushworth,White,Taylor,Monthe,Ward,Earing,P erry Phillips (Mills 70),Kiernan (Osadebe 60),Shade,Miller Osadebe (Menayese 78).

Subs Not Used: Rose,Bates,Leak,Willis.

Booked: Earing,Shade.

Goals: Phillips 32.

Bristol Rovers: Belshaw,Kilgour,Taylor,Harries,Ander son,Coutts Whelan (Collins 69),Finley,Evans (Brown 75) Saunders (Spence 90),Pitman.

Subs Not Used: Westbrooke,Anderton,Hoole,Ward. Booked: Taylor,Harries.

Goals: Taylor 79,Spence 90.

Att: 5,434

Ref: Sebastian Stockbridge (Tyne & Wear).