Sam Finley scored a fortuitous equaliser to earn Bristol Rovers a draw at Swindon in a high-intensity west country derby.
Chances fell to both teams inside the opening 10 minutes as Ben Gladwin failed to keep his effort on target and Rovers’ Ryan Loft arrived too late into the box to get on the end of Aaron Collins’ cross.
Tyreece Simpson put Swindon in front with a curling strike from outside the box in the 16th minute, scoring his 11th goal of the season.
Rovers responded with an equaliser before half-time as Finley’s cross nestled in the back of the net despite Collins claiming to have got the final touch.
A foul-ridden start to the second half resulted in Robins full-back Ellis landolo picking up the fourth yellow card of the match with emotions clearly running high.
Strikers Harry McKirdy and Loft tested both keepers with tame shots on target but neither could force a breakthrough in a goalless second half.
Report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Swindon
Formation 3-1-4-2
- 12Ward
- 16O’Brien
- 4Conroy
- 2Odimayo
- 25Reed
- 24Hunt
- 7Gladwin
- 20Williams
- 3IandoloBooked at 57mins
- 9Simpson
- 11McKirdy
Substitutes
- 1Wollacott
- 8Lyden
- 17Mitchell-Lawson
- 26East
- 28Aguiar
- 29Parsons
- 30Dabre
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Belshaw
- 30HooleBooked at 90mins
- 17TaylorBooked at 25mins
- 2Connolly
- 4GrantBooked at 90mins
- 6FinleyBooked at 32mins
- 15CouttsBooked at 74mins
- 10CollinsSubstituted forThomasat 85′minutes
- 21Evans
- 11NicholsonSubstituted forClarkeat 90+2′minutes
- 38LoftBooked at 40minsSubstituted forAndersonat 90+7′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Thomas
- 9Clarke
- 16Anderton
- 19Anderson
- 24Spence
- 32Jaakkola
- 40Pitman
- Referee:
- Tom Nield
- Attendance:
- 12,695
Live Text
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Match ends, Swindon Town 1, Bristol Rovers 1.
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Second Half ends, Swindon Town 1, Bristol Rovers 1.
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Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Harry Anderson replaces Ryan Loft.
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Luca Hoole (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt saved. Louis Reed (Swindon Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Josh Grant (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Josh Grant (Bristol Rovers).
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Harry McKirdy (Swindon Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Leon Clarke replaces Sam Nicholson.
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Ryan Loft (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Akinwale Odimayo (Swindon Town).
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Attempt blocked. Harry McKirdy (Swindon Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyreece Simpson with a cross.
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Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Luke Thomas replaces Aaron Collins.
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Connor Taylor (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Tyreece Simpson (Swindon Town).
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Attempt saved. Ryan Loft (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Antony Evans with a cross.
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Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Rob Hunt (Swindon Town).
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Attempt blocked. Ellis Iandolo (Swindon Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Louis Reed.
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Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Louis Reed.
