Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 Bristol Rovers
Sky Bet League One, Adams Park Stadium, Tuesday 18 February 2025
Bristol Rovers fell to a 2-0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in Tuesday evening’s Sky Bet League One encounter.
A close first-half saw both sides go close, with Cameron Humphries testing Jed Ward before Scott Sinclair’s header forced a reactive save by Will Norris.
The Chairboys took the advantage early in the second half when Humphries swept in from around ten yards, before doubling the lead nine minutes later thanks to Dan Udoh’s well-taken strike.
Chances were limited for the Gas, who finished the game with ten men after substitute Shaq Forde was shown a straight red card with eight minutes left on a disappointing evening in Buckinghamshire.
Cold, February conditions greeted the Gas at Adams Park as a somewhat even first-half had just the odd threat of a goal.
It was the hosts who challenged the net first, with Jed Ward needing to tip over Dan Harvie’s bending cross after a good move by the hosts.
Cameron Humphreys caused havoc in the Rovers area on 15 minutes with a delightful ball, leading to an old-fashioned goal-mouth scramble. The combination of Ward and James Wilson stopped the ball from crossing the line.
It was Humphreys who again tested the Rovers’ No31 with a powerful strike from 20 yards, forcing Ward into a smart save down to his left just after 20 minutes in.
Rovers would get the best opportunity of the half though, when Luke Thomas’ wayward shot swerved kindly to captain Sinclair. The No7 rose highest to turn a header goalward, forcing Will Norris into a quick, reactive save.
All level at the interval, Head Coach Iñigo Calderón introduced Taylor Moore and Sil Swinkels at half-time, bringing more strength and power into the team.
Just six minutes into the second half, though, Wycombe grabbed the lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances. A deflected ball fell kindly for Harvie, who pulled it back for Humphries. The midfielder’s low effort was through a sea of legs, finding the bottom corner.
The Gas looked to fire back quickly. Isaac Hutchinson found Sousa on the far side with a well-spotted pass on the break, and the full-back fired an effort which was just wide of the near post.
Any chance to regroup for the visitors was quickly vanquished as Wycombe grabbed a second on the hour. A long ball forward was met and collected by Udoh, who did well to take possession and steer a low effort past Ward.
Loaned striker Michael Reindorf was introduced as the Gas sought a way back into the fixture, before Shaw Forde and the returning Kofi Shaw were also brought on for the visitors.
But the damage had been done with Rovers, who were down to ten men after Forde’s late red card, falling to defeat against the promotion-chasing Chairboys.
Wycombe Wanderers: Norris, Harvie, Scowen ©, Simons (Leahy 78), Uodh (Lowry 78), Low, Humphreys (Bakinson 87), Lubala, Taylor, Back (Kodua 67), Onyedinma (McCleary 67)
Subs not used: Raviazzoli (GK), Bradley
Goals: Humphries 51, Udoh 60
Booked: Harvie
Bristol Rovers: Ward, Senior, Sousa, Wilson, Sinclair © (Moore 46), Sotiriou (Forde 76), Thomas (Swinkels 46), Taylor, Martin, Hutchinson (Shaw 79), Lindsay (Reindorf 62)
Subs not used: Roberts (GK), Brown
Booked: Senior
Sent Off: Forde
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Attendance: 4,419 (419 away)
