Match ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Southport 0.
Bristol RoversBristol Rovers2SouthportSouthport0
Bristol Rovers are one point off Conference leaders Barnet with two games left after seeing off Southport.
Ellis Harrison opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he controlled Andy Monkhouse's flick to fire home as the Pirates bid to return to League Two.
Monkhouse also set up their second goal when he crossed from the left and Matt Taylor headed home.
The Sandgrounders are not safe yet, sitting six points above the relegation zone with three games left.
Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke told BBC Radio Bristol:
"Southport were obviously a little bit depleted on the day and we took advantage of that it was a comfortable performance.
"But it's always a tough ask, a third game in eight days. We could have been a little bit better at times.
"But the three points are the main thing; we move on and now it looks like a two-horse race.
"Grimsby have a good manager and they'll be having a right go to win the last two games, it looks like a two-horse race that's for sure."
Line-ups
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 25Puddy
- 4Lockyer
- 6Parkes
- 7Mansell
- 3Brown
- 14Lines
- 5McChrystal
- 28DawsonSubstituted forBalantaat 88'minutes
- 23Monkhouse
- 10Taylor
- 17HarrisonBooked at 27minsSubstituted forBlissettat 82'minutesBooked at 83mins
Substitutes
- 1Mildenhall
- 2Leadbitter
- 16Easter
- 27Blissett
- 29Balanta
Southport
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Thompson
- 16Rutherford
- 8GeorgeBooked at 73mins
- 11Davies
- 3Fitzpatrick
- 4KaySubstituted forCollinsat 77'minutes
- 7Evans
- 14Joyce
- 17Almond
- 26Hewitt
- 27McCarthySubstituted forSymesat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Collins
- 15Connor
- 21Symes
- 23Donnelly
- 25Usai
- Referee:
- John Brooks
- Attendance:
- 8,251
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol RoversAway TeamSouthport
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away2
- Corners
- Home15
- Away15
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Southport 0.
Post update
Corner, Southport.
Post update
Hand ball by Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Corner, Southport.
Post update
Attempt missed. Charlie Joyce (Southport) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Angelo Balanta replaces Adam Dawson.
Post update
Foul by Andy Monkhouse (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Dom Collins (Southport) wins a free kick.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Booking
Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Steven Hewitt (Southport) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Nathan Blissett replaces Ellis Harrison.
Post update
Foul by Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Louis Almond (Southport) wins a free kick.
Post update
Foul by Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Steven Hewitt (Southport) wins a free kick.
Post update
Corner, Bristol Rovers.
Substitution
Substitution, Southport. Dom Collins replaces Scott Kay.
