Rovers on a roll
GAS STRETCH UNBEATEN RUN TO FIVE, WHILE ROBINS LOSE OUT TO BORO
MOMENTUM is growing behind Bristol Rovers as the Gas stretched their unbeaten run to five games with victory at Shrewsbury.
Ben Garner’s side won 1-0 at New Meadow thanks to Brandon Hanlan’s brave first-half header, and Rovers were gutsy until the last as they ground out three points.
Rovers have three wins from their past four League One games, and Garner will be delighted with the spirit his side showed to fend off periods of intense pressure.
The first chance of the evening fell to Josh Grant, who should have done better from Max Ehmer’s cross on eight minutes. The midfielder volleyed wide from eight yards with goalkeeper Deyan Illiev beaten.
Rovers did hit the back of Illiev’s net soon after, as Zain Westbrooke’s delivery from a free-kick was perfect for Hanlan to rise highest and head home. The 23-year-old has proved to a real physical specimen since his arrival from Gillingham, and this was a situation where the defence just could not cope with his leap.
But in similar fashion to Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burton Albion, the Gas were struck by malaise after hitting the front. Sloppiness, tentativeness and a lack of composure gripped their game as the home side began to boss the game.
Ehmer showed his defensive nous with 25 minutes on the clock to read a through ball for the speedy Jason Cummings, with the centreback getting his outstretched boot on the ball before Jack Baldwin made a crunching challenge to avert the danger.
Shrewsbury continued to search for an equaliser and should have
been level with 35 minutes played as Daniel Udoh – scorer of the winning goal at the Memorial Stadium in February – picked a gorgeous through ball for Leon Clarke, but the veteran striker swept his firsttime shot wide of the target when one-on-one with Anssi Jaakkola.
Clarke missed another gilt-edged chance on the verge of half-time as the cracks widened in Rovers’ defence, heading Josh Vela’s cross against the post from six yards out.
The profligate Shrews almost paid a heavy price in stoppagetime, as another smart Westbrooke free-kick caught the defence napping and played David Tutonda in behind. The wing-back’s first touch was imprecise, though, and Illiev rushed out to smother his shot.
The pattern of play continued in the second half with Shrewsbury pressing for an equaliser, and Clarke and Cummings both put tantalising low balls across the sixyard box that just needed the finishing touch. Luckily for the Gas, neither were converted.
Shrewsbury went even closer on the hour as Clarke cut the ball back for Jan Zamburek, and Ehmer was perfectly placed to clear his drilled effort off the line.
The home side continued to threaten, but the Gas were lucky to have Jaakkola between the posts. His trademark flying saves were not required, but twice he read the situation brilliantly to take the ball off the toes of the rapid Udoh to preserve Rovers’ lead.
After weathering the storm, Garner’s men should have won by more.
Erhun Oztumer and Sam Nicholson added class from the bench, with the former releasing Hanlan in behind with two minutes to go. The striker showed tiredness as he blasted his shot straight at the goalkeeper.
But Rovers were not punished for the miss, and held on for the three points to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to five.