Swindon Town 1-1 Bristol Rovers: player ratings, MOTM, heroes & villains as Gas draw

The need-to-know information after this clash between the current and a previous Gas manager’s teams.
Antony Evans of Bristol Rovers.Antony Evans of Bristol Rovers.
Antony Evans of Bristol Rovers.

Bristol Rovers drew 1-1 with Swindon Town as the Gas resumed their League Two campaign on Saturday.

The early-kick off may have contributed to a cagey performance from both teams, with neither side able to fully control the game or create clear-cut chances, and the result a fair reward for the endeavours of two well-matched sides.

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Tyreece Simpson had netted a 16th minute opener from 25 yards out for the Robins.

Rovers equalised 20 minutes later when Sam Finley’s cross went across the area - possibly glanced by Aaron Collins with the forward celebrating heartily - but that was as good as it got for both teams.

Joey Barton’s side played some good football and carried the game to Swindon in the second half, but the hosts always carried a threat on the break. A first draw in eight games between the two sides.

Tale of the match

Barton sprung a couple of selection surprises with James Connolly and Luca Hoole in the starting XI, with Cian Harries and Alfie Kilgour missing out altogether. Leon Clarke was on the bench for the first time since September.

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But it was Swindon who went closest to netting first as Ben Gladwin volleyed a Reed free-kick over the bar after three minutes.

Connor Taylor was then alert to stop Hunt’s header across goal causing mayhem.

At the other end, Ryan Loft was so close to meeting Aaron Collins’ whipped cross to net from a few yards out on the slide inside 10 minutes.

On 16 minutes the opener came as Ben Gladwin fed Simpson - via a poor touch from Connolly - to delicately curl inside the far post from 25 yards. The Alan McLoughlin stand leapt to their feet as the 19-year-old hit the ninth goal of his league campaign.

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McKirdy and O’Brien then went close to adding to the scoreline, before Iandolo’s deflected cross almost found Simpson for his second, who drew a yellow from Taylor after a wild lunge to stop the forward countering.

Rovers fans howled for a penalty as Loft went down in the area at a corner but nothing was doing, nor when Williams scythed down Evans seconds later to see retribution from Paul Coutts shortly afterwards, a yellow card for the Pirates skipper.

On 35 minutes the equaliser arrived as Collins glanced in Finley’s cross, though it may have been the Rovers midfielder’s centre that actually went in. Now it was the Gas supporters exploding in delirium and charging down the stands to salute the team in yellow and green quarters.

McPirdy burst through at goal and Loft was cautioned as the game got spicy, but it was not until the 51st minute that another shot came: Nicholson ran into the area but his low shot was easily saved.

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The visitors took control after the break but a counter from Simpson almost put Swindon ahead again, as the striker out-muscled Connolly but curled just wide of Belshaw’s goal.

Coutts was cautioned, Loft miscued as he tried to volley at goal, and Williams was kicked about, but neither side could get the upper hand going into the final 10 minutes.

A nice block by Grant, a deflected effort from Evans from the edge of the box and a glanced Loft header punctuated the final minutes but no goals came, with a head injury to Loft leading to lengthy injury time.

Grant caught McPirdy’s heels as the home side’s top scorer ran at goal in the final seconds but Reed, who had earlier grabbed an assist for Simpson’s goal, put his free-kick from 25 yards out straight down the throat of Belshaw. A point apiece.

Heroes

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San Finley: The midfielder’s cross may well have been the equalising goal, but some superb crossfield passes caused the home side plenty of problems as Hoole and Grant got forward from full-back.

Ben Gladwin: The defensive midfielder for the home side played a part in Swindon’s first-half goal, danced past the impressive Coutts at one point with a silky drag of the ball and broke up play neatly for Garner’s team.

Referee Tom Nield: The official deserves credit for keeping control of a feisty M4 derby, with plenty of bookings needed for late tackles but no silly reds dished out. Playing the advantage and going back to book Iandolo when needed one time.

Swindon Town’s County GroundSwindon Town’s County Ground
Swindon Town’s County Ground

Villains

Harry McPirdy: The Swindon front-man was fifth in the League Two goalscoring charts but wasted several good opportunities, though he worked tirelessly for his side to get them up the pitch.

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Ryan Loft: The Rovers striker kicked thin air when presented with a good chance to volley the visitors into the lead with 20 minutes to go. The 24-year-old was a handful physically but lacked sharpness in front of goal.

Ben Garner: The former Gas boss failed to make a substitution all game when adding some fresh legs or making a tactical change may have given some extra impetus to his team, and possibly got the victory.

Player ratings

Swindon Town (5-3-2): Lewis Ward 6; Rob Hunt 6, Jake O’Brien 6, Dion Conroy 7, Akin Odimayo 6, Ellis Iandolo 6; Ben Gladwin 7, Jonny Williams 7, Louis Reed 6; Harry McKirdy 5, Tyreece Simpson 7

Bristol Rovers (4-3-3): James Belshaw 6; Luca Hoole 5, James Connolly 6, Connor Taylor 6, Josh Grant 6; Paul Coutts 7, Sam Finley 7, Antony Evans 7, Sam Nicholson 6 (Leon Clarke 90+1’ n/a), Aaron Collins 6 (Luke Thomas 85’ n/a), Ryan Loft 6 (Harry Anderson, 90+3’ n/a)

Man of the match

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Paul Coutts: The Gas captain led by example in the middle of the pitch, winning duels and prompting play from deep.

What’s next?

Bristol Rovers roll on to face Scunthorpe United away in midweek.

Swindon Town go to Colchester United in a week.

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