This is what Cambridge United boss Mark Bonner made of Bristol Rovers immense win

Bristol Rovers claimed their first win in eight league games – moving them out of the relegation zone as they defeated Cambridge United 2-1 at the Memorial Stadium.

An own goal from Greg Taylor and an acute finish from debutant Josh Coburn in the second-half gave the Gas the victory to relieve the nervousness around the West Country club.

Mark Bonner made an admission before the game that he didn’t know what formation and players Joey Barton would play, and the Rovers boss surprised the majority by reverting back to four at the back.

“They played a different shape to what we expected,” Bonner admitted. They’ve chopped and changed a lot recently.

“They played a diamond and we found the first ten minutes really difficult to get into the game.”

In similar fashion to the majority of the Gas’ games at the Memorial Stadium, they dominated the early periods and took a deserved lead when a Luca Hoole header bounced off of Taylor and into the back of the net.

Cambridge found their way back into the game albeit against the run of play when James Belshaw brought down Sam Smith inside the penalty box with Joe Ironside making no mistake from 12 yards.

“We changed and went with a three in the middle and from that moment we were able to contain them and bring our own bits of control to the game as well.”

The much needed win for Rovers was confirmed ten minutes after the break when debutant Josh Coburn squeezed the ball in from a tight angle.

“It was a difficult afternoon for us, and a frustrating one,” Bonner said.

“At half time when it was 1-1 you’d have definitely taken 1-1 going into the break after the first 20 minutes but after 90 minutes to come away losing is a kick in the wotsits.

“We just didn’t start with the intent and intensity that Bristol Rovers did.”