Bristol Rovers 3-1 Burton Albion
Sky Bet League One, The Memorial Stadium, Saturday 15 February 2025
Late goals by Luke Thomas and Isaac Hutchinson earned Bristol Rovers a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Burton Albion.
Chris Martin’s header from Lino Sousa’s cross on 13 minutes had been the stand-out moment in a close first-half, giving Rovers the advantage at half-time.
Burton came out fighting in the second period though and finally found an equaliser as substitute Fabio Tavares headed over Jed Ward from inside six yards.
But Rovers would hit back again and winger Thomas would position himself well to latch onto Martin’s flick to poke home, before Hutchinson struck late in added time, securing a third win in four home Sky Bet League One matches for the Pirates.
The Gas made one change to the side that got a 1-1 draw with Stockport County in Tuesday’s midweek outing, with Club Captain Scott Sinclair coming into the side in place of Isaac Hutchinson.
A slow start to the game finally burst into life on 13 minutes when the first big chance at The Memorial Stadium saw Rovers take the lead. A lovely piece of combination play between Sousa and Ruel Sotiriou allowed the former to find space on the left of the box. His dinked cross was inch-perfect for Martin to steer in from close range.
The experienced forward could have grabbed his second on the half-an-hour mark, and will certainly feel he should have done better with Jack Hunt’s excellent cross. The No18 could only turn his first-time effort wide.
Burton’s opportunities were severely limited and the only time Saturday’s visitors threatened to enter a dangerous area in the first half, James Wilson was on hand with a no-nonsense sliding tackle to deny Udoka Godwin-Malife.
It was the home side who ended the half stronger and almost forced a second on the stroke of half-time. Matt Butcher’s corner caused chaos in the Burton box, with Wilson’s flick-on almost crossing the goal-line amid tempted clearances from two or three Albion players.
Gary Bowyer’s men came out swinging in the second half, looking for a route back into the game. Jed Ward had to react quickly to deny Owen Dodgson’s cross-shot from sneaking in at the near post.
Grant Ward thought he had done enough to get the hosts a penalty, only for referee Thomas Kirk to award a foul in Burton’s favour, before Godwin-Malife pulled a shot across the face of goal.
Goalkeeper Ward then had to be aware as substitute Tavares’ blasted an effort straight at him from a narrow angle, but the young shot-stopper could do little to deny the forward a few moments later as he lifted a header over Ward from close-range to level the fixture.
But the Gas would not be denied and found a second goal with three minutes to play. Martin’s clever flick found Thomas in space close to the six yard box, and the No11 kept his composure to coolly slot in at the near post.
Burton pressed hard for another equaliser but, amid eight additional minutes, were caught out. Again Martin was involved, passing coolly for substitute Hutchinson, who slotted in at the near post to wrap up the win.
Bristol Rovers: J. Ward, Sousa, Wilson, Sinclair © (Forde 74), G. Ward (Lindsay 74), Sotiriou (Hutchinson 90), Thomas (Moore 90+1) , Taylor, Martin, Butcher, Hunt (Swinkels 90+1)
Subs not used: Roberts (GK), Reindorf
Goals: Martin 13, Thomas 88, Hutchinson 90+7
Booked: Martin, Thomas
Burton Albion: Crocombe, Godwin-Malife, Dodgson (Lofthouse 72), Sweeney ©, Webster, Bodvarsson (Bennett 72), Vancooten, Armer, Burrell (Tavares 72) (Larsson 84), McKiernan (Kalinauskas 72), Chauke
Subs not used: Isted (GK), Delap
Goal: Tavares 81
Booked: Chauke, Bennett
Referee: Thomas Kirk
Attendance: 7,938
