Match ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Southport 0.
Bristol Rovers 2-0 Southport
- From the section Conference
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:
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"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
- 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
- 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
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Southport 0.
Corner, Southport.
Hand ball by Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers).
Corner, Southport.
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.
Foul by Andy Monkhouse (Bristol Rovers).
Dom Collins (Southport) wins a free kick.
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.
Foul by Nathan Blissett (Bristol Rovers).
Steven Hewitt (Southport) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Nathan Blissett replaces Ellis Harrison.
Foul by Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers).
Louis Almond (Southport) wins a free kick.
Foul by Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers).
Steven Hewitt (Southport) wins a free kick.
Corner, Bristol Rovers.
Substitution
Substitution, Southport. Dom Collins replaces Scott Kay.
Substitution
Substitution, Southport. Michael Symes replaces Connor McCarthy.
Corner, Southport.
Booking
Luke George (Southport) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Luke George (Southport).
Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick.
Foul by Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers).
Steven Hewitt (Southport) wins a free kick.
Attempt missed. Paul Rutherford (Southport) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Corner, Bristol Rovers.
Corner, Southport.
Foul by Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers).
Louis Almond (Southport) wins a free kick.
Foul by Charlie Joyce (Southport).
Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick.
Foul by Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers).
Micah Evans (Southport) wins a free kick.
Attempt missed. Lee Mansell (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lee Brown.
Corner, Bristol Rovers.
Corner, Bristol Rovers.
Attempt saved. Ellis Harrison (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved. Assisted by Chris Lines with a cross.