Bristol Rovers player ratings v Cambridge United: 'Livewire' receives 8/10 in Gas victory

Bristol Rovers won their first home game in seven weeks as they saw off Cambridge United in League One on Tuesday evening.

A goal from Chris Martin late in the second-half secured all three points, ending his nine game goal drought.

The veteran will feel he should have ended the game with a brace, after missing from the penalty spot in the first-half.

The Gas started the encounter the stronger of the two teams. Antony Evans had a left footed shot inside the opening 5 minutes, which headed towards Will Mannion’s goal, however his effort narrowly went wide of the post.

The visitors then had an early chance themselves as an out swinging corner met the head of Paul Digby inside the opening 10 minutes, which was smartly saved by Jed Ward.

Soon after, Martin and Scott Sinclair linked up neatly on the left flank, which saw the latter square the ball to Luke Thomas who curled an effort just wide of the far post.

Sinclair was soon involved again, when the veteran played a beautifully disguised ball into Evans who shot, but his effort was comfortably stopped by Mannion.

Moments later Brandon Aguilera danced into the penalty area after slick build up play by the Rovers attack, which saw the Nottingham Forest loanee go down in the box, which gave the referee a decision to make, however Daniel Middleton waved play on.

Garry Monk’s side then had a chance themselves just before the half hour mark, another corner was swung in, which met the head of Macauley Bonne, whose effort flashed over the bar from six yards.

Poor possessional play in the U’s backline then saw Sinclair pounce, which led to the veteran being fouled in the box. Middleton pointed to the spot and up stepped Martin who fired a tame penalty which was comfortably saved by Mannion.

Matt Taylor’s side then had their third penalty shout of the evening as Martin went down inside the 18-yard box, but the referee waved play on.

The Gas were soon after awarded a free-kick on half-time, and Evans curled one towards the visitors’ goal, however it was comfortably caught by Mannion,

Monk’s side had the first big chance of the second-half, when Zeno Rossi’s header hit the post, following another corner.

The second-half had very few chances of note. Sullay Kaikai was quick to react to a second ball on the edge of Rovers’ box, however his effort flashed over Ward’s bar.

Substitute Jevani Brown had a chance for the Gas, as the former U’s man cut onto his left foot and fired a shot, which forced a corner.

Rovers then finally broke the deadlock two minutes from time when Evans fed Thomas whose burst of pace unlocked the Cambridge backline, where he squared the ball to the unmarked Martin, who couldn’t miss from six yards.

The victory for Rovers moved them to 14th in the League One table, meanwhile Monk’s side moved to 19th place, five points above the relegation zone.

Here is how we felt the Rovers players faired on the night...