Match ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Fleetwood Town 1.
Bristol RoversBristol Rovers2FleetwoodFleetwood Town1
James Clarke snatched a stoppage-time winner for Bristol Rovers against 10-man Fleetwood, who had both striker Ched Evans and manager Joey Barton sent off.
Defender Clarke fired home a left-foot shot from eight yards to reward incessant late pressure by the home side and give Graham Coughlan his first points as Bristol Rovers caretaker boss.
The goal provoked an ugly melee in front of the dug-outs, with players and staff of both teams involved, and Barton sent to the dressing room by referee Brett Huxtable.
The official issued 11 cards during the game including two for Evans who, already on a booking at the time, was shown a straight red card in the 55th minute for an aerial challenge on Tom Lockyer.
Fleetwood took a 28th-minute lead when the ball was played back to Ashley Hunter on the left edge of the box following a quick break and the midfielder curled a right-foot shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Jack Bonham.
Rovers equalised eight minutes later as Gavin Reilly stooped to head home Alex Rodman's flick-on from six yards and they snatched all three points in dramatic fashion late on.
Line-ups
Bristol Rovers
Formation 5-3-2
- 13Bonham
- 3Holmes-DennisSubstituted forMatthewsat 78'minutes
- 15J ClarkeBooked at 90mins
- 4Lockyer
- 5Craig
- 28Kelly
- 8O ClarkeBooked at 23minsSubstituted forLinesat 89'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 6Upson
- 33Rodman
- 17Jakubiak
- 20ReillySubstituted forNicholsat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Payne
- 10Nichols
- 14Lines
- 16Broadbent
- 21Smith
- 22Partington
- 26Matthews
Fleetwood
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Cairns
- 2CoyleBooked at 90mins
- 29Sheron
- 5Eastham
- 23WallaceBooked at 80mins
- 22HunterBooked at 41minsSubstituted forTaylorat 85'minutes
- 4HoltBooked at 46minsSubstituted forMorganat 65'minutes
- 25MarneyBooked at 64mins
- 10McAlenySubstituted forBigginsat 58'minutes
- 9EvansBooked at 55mins
- 17MaddenBooked at 60mins
Substitutes
- 16Jones
- 18Taylor
- 20Morgan
- 27Biggins
- 33Hill
- 34Garner
- 35Rydel
- Referee:
- Brett Huxtable
- Attendance:
- 7,159
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol RoversAway TeamFleetwood
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Fleetwood Town 1.
Booking
Lewie Coyle (Fleetwood Town) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
James Clarke (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal!
Goal! Bristol Rovers 2, Fleetwood Town 1. James Clarke (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner.
Booking
Chris Lines (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Hand ball by Ross Wallace (Fleetwood Town).
Post update
Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Ross Wallace.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ed Upson (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Lewie Coyle.
Post update
Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Dean Marney.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Chris Lines replaces Ollie Clarke.
Post update
Foul by James Clarke (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Dean Marney (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sam Matthews (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Ryan Taylor replaces Ashley Hunter.
Post update
Foul by Alex Jakubiak (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Dean Marney (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Michael Kelly (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Harrison Biggins (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
