Bristol Rovers end bad run of form with draw against promotion chasing Ipswich

Bristol Rovers ended their run of four straight league defeats with a 0-0 against promotion pushing Ipswich Town.

The Gas were well worth a point in the end, and possibly may have edged it with Scott Sinclair’s second half effort ajudged to have not crossed the line.

Joey Barton made three changes for Bristol Rovers’ League One clash with Ipswich Town, with Josh Coburn, Luke McCormick and the suspended Ryan Loft making way for Harry Anderson, Lamare Bogarde and Scott Sinclair.

The Gas were almost immediately under the kosh with chances for Cameron Humphreys and Cameron Burgess, with both saved wel by Ellery Balcombe.

However it was the Gas who had the best chance of the early stages when Jarell Quansah rose highest from an Anthony Evans corner, unfortunately for the Liverpool defender, his header was over the bar.

Aaron Collins was a frustrated figure throughtout the first half, with the Welshman isolated in the Ipswich end for the majority. The away side dominated the ball and Rovers looked to play it long and counter, with support to Collins sparse.

Rovers’ number ten had a great chance to open the scoring just before the break, after a spell of posession from Barton’s side Collins was slid in by Evans just inside the Ipswich box, however the shot was tame and easy for Christian Walton to collect.

The Gas played their best football with the ball on the ground, despite choosing to go long for the majority of the half, looking their best down the right with James Gibbons, Harry Anderson and Evans all combining. The trio set Collins up for another effort towards the end of the first half, after some great work from Gibbons, however the striker fired over Walton’s crossbar, putting an end to a good first half performance from Joey Barton’s side.

The second half started the same as the first, with Sone Aluko and Freddie Ladapo firing straight at Ellery Balcombe and over the bar within minutes of thre restart, however likewise to the first the Gas fired back with Collins’ half-volley from an acute angle pulling a smart save from Walton, being the highlight of their best spell of the game.

The Gas had more chances to grab the lead, after an underhit pass across the Ipswich defence was pounced upon by Scott Sinclair. After a one-two with Collins the former Celtic man was bearing down on Walton’s goal, however his shot was weak.

Sinclair also showed his defensive prowess minutes later, cutting out a ball across his box that looked destined to arrive to the foot of Ladapo, vitally keeping the scores level.

There were cheers around the Memorial Stadium with just under 20 minutes to go, after Sinclair looked to put the ball in the back of the net after Walton dropped it, however the officials decided that the ball did not cross the line and play continued.

The addition of Josh Coburn gave the Gas a lift with 15 to go, and with the Memorial Stadium in full support of their side the Gas were well worth a point, if not the better side.

Bristol Rovers (4-2-3-1): Ellery Balcombe, James Connolly, Lewis Gordon, Jarell Quansah, Scott Sinclair, Grant Ward, Aaron Collins (C), Harry Anderson (Luca Hoole 74’), Anthony Evans, Lamare Bogarde (Josh Coburn 74’) , James Gibbons.

Substitutes: Anssi Jaakkola, Luke McCormick, John Marquis, Josh Coburn, Luca Hoole, Jerry Lawrence and Calum MacDonald.

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Walton, Davis (Clarke 74’), Burgess, Woolfenden, Donacien; Humphreys, Morsy; Harness(Chaplin 74’), Aluko (Broadhead 57’), Burns, (Edwards 57’) Ladapo (Hirst 74’)

Substitutes: Conor Chaplin, Kayden Jackson, George Hirst, Kyle Edwards, Vaclav Hladky, Nathan Broadhead and Harry Clarke.