ROVERS IN ACTION
WIN REMAINS ELUSIVE
BEN Garner’s wait for his first win as Bristol Rovers boss goes on after the Gas were held to a goalless draw by Tranmere Rovers last night.
Garner’s men had the better chances throughout the game, but they could not break through as their wait for a win stretched to 14 games.
The best openings at Prenton Park fell to their top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris, including a giltedged one-on-one in stoppagetime, but he could not convert as Rovers stayed 13th in League One.
Micky Mellon’s Tranmere remain in the bottom three.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors inside 120 seconds as Ollie Clarke volleyed a pass in behind for Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, but he couldn’t show the same composure he displayed in scoring his maiden goal as a professional against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, smashing over Scott Davies’ goal with his left foot.
Rovers went close again two minutes later, with Ed Upson planting a ball over the top for ClarkeHarris but Rovers’ top scorer blasted over from a tight angle. They went closer on 13 minutes, with Clarke’s thumping header blocked en route to goal before Alex Rodman hit the side-netting from the corner of the six-yard box.
Another clear-cut chance fell the Gas’ way on 17 minutes thanks to a crunching Abu Ogogo tackle, which allowed Clarke to play Clarke-Harris in clear on goal, but he got it caught under his feet and the chance seemed to pass, only for the ball to be cleared straight into his path. He took aim at goal, but Davies was right behind his firm strike.
Tranmere had their chances too, but good blocks denied goalbound shots from Corey BlackettTaylor and Andy Cook.
Cook registered another effort on target on the verge of half-time, getting across Alfie Kilgour to flick Liam Ridehalgh’s cross towards goal in first-half stoppage-time, but Jamal Blackman held on well.
The hosts continued to improve after the break, and Blackett-Taylor and Cook were on the end of early chances, but the former saw his effort blocked before the striker fired a volley over the bar.
The Whites were looking the more likely to win it late on, but Rovers created the better chances in the final quarter of the game.
First, in the 68th minute, Mitchell-Lawson made some room in the box, but he opted to shoot when Alex Rodman was screaming for the ball in space, and the winger’s shot was deflected behind.
With 16 minutes to play, Ed Upson almost scored with a sublime first-time strike from 25 yards, only to be cruelly denied by the post with Davies a mere spectator.
Then Clarke found some space on the left wing and drilled across goal with Ogogo steaming in, but just before the net was due to ripple his effort was blocked by a clutch of despairing defenders.
In added time, substitute Josh Ginnelly threaded a ball in behind for Clarke-Harris, but with only Davies between him and three points he slid his effort wide of the target and Rovers’ wait for a win goes on.