Match ends, Wrexham 0, Bristol Rovers 0.
WrexhamWrexham0Bristol RoversBristol Rovers0
Wrexham survived without sent-off Rob Evans while Bristol Rovers played 50 minutes without a recognised goalkeeper in an eventful goalless draw.
Defender Mark McChrystal moved into the visitors' goal after Steve Mildenhall's 42nd-minute exit with a knee injury.
Soon after, referee Ross Joyce judged Evans' challenge on Matty Taylor worthy of a red card and the hosts were down to 10 men for the second half.
But neither side could take advantage of their opponents' misfortune.
Alex Wall hit the crossbar from a free-kick late on for Rovers, while Wrexham's Elliott Durrell headed high and Connor Jennings forced a good save from McChrystal.
Wrexham manager Kevin Wilkin told BBC Radio Wales Sport:
"Again a refereeing decision has cost us. The same thing happened at Altrincham and it looks like the same thing has happened tonight.
"If we're getting people sent off for dissent and those sort of things then clearly I can do something about that.
"I can't stop my players tackling and I'm not going to stop them tackling.
"The referee shouldn't be the most important person on the field. I think we're getting a raw deal."
Bristol Rovers defender-turned-goalkeeper Mark McChrystal told BBC Radio Bristol:
"I've never played in goal before so it was an interesting evening. I wasn't expecting it
"He (manager Darrell Clarke) asked if I'd do it and I said no problem, I'd give it a go.
"I think I did fine. The lads did well in front of me, and them having 10 men helped a bit as well.
"But I've gone out there and we've got a clean sheet. It's not as easy as it looks."
Line-ups
Wrexham
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Bachmann
- 18White
- 4Smith
- 5Hudson
- 3Ashton
- 2Carrington
- 6Clarke
- 15EvansBooked at 45mins
- 24JenningsBooked at 90mins
- 10BishopSubstituted forMoultat 88'minutes
- 16YorkSubstituted forDurrellat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Durrell
- 8Harris
- 9Moult
- 14Tomassen
- 29Thompson
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-3-3
- 1MildenhallSubstituted forTrotmanat 42'minutes
- 4Lockyer
- 5McChrystal
- 6Parkes
- 3Brown
- 30Della VerdeSubstituted forBalantaat 24'minutes
- 7Mansell
- 24Sinclair
- 23Monkhouse
- 27BlissettBooked at 54minsSubstituted forWallat 70'minutes
- 10TaylorBooked at 84mins
Substitutes
- 8O Clarke
- 14Goldberg
- 15Trotman
- 29Balanta
- 31Wall
- Referee:
- Ross Joyce
- Attendance:
- 2,608
Match Stats
Home TeamWrexhamAway TeamBristol Rovers
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home0
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wrexham 0, Bristol Rovers 0.
Post update
Attempt saved. Connor Jennings (Wrexham) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
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Corner, Wrexham.
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Hand ball by Andy Monkhouse (Bristol Rovers).
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Foul by Alex Wall (Bristol Rovers).
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Blaine Hudson (Wrexham) wins a free kick.
Booking
Connor Jennings (Wrexham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Connor Jennings (Wrexham).
Post update
Angelo Balanta (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Wrexham. Louis Moult replaces Andy Bishop.
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Attempt missed. Elliott Durrell (Wrexham) header from the left side of the box is too high.
Booking
Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers).
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Daniel Bachmann (Wrexham) wins a free kick.
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Alex Wall (Bristol Rovers) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.
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Foul by Elliott Durrell (Wrexham).
Post update
Stuart Sinclair (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick.
Post update
Attempt saved. Angelo Balanta (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Post update
Foul by Angelo Balanta (Bristol Rovers).
