Bristol Rovers 0-0 Crawley Town
Sky Bet League One, The Memorial Stadium, Saturday 16 November 2024
Bristol Rovers were held to a 0-0 Sky Bet League One draw at home by Crawley Town.
The Gas seemed destined to find the net in a frantic first few minutes as Isaac Hutchinson hit the woodwork and Luke McCormick saw a header tipped onto the cross-bar. The duo then linked up only for Hutchinson’s low effort to be well saved.
Crawley grew into the fixture and ended the contest the stronger of the two sides, with Josh Griffiths forced into a number of excellent saves in the closing exchanges.
But the fixture would end in stalemate, meaning consecutive league draws for Rovers.
Manager Matt Taylor made one change to his starting Xi from the draw with Lincoln City; an enforced one as the suspended Taylor Moore dropped out with Bryant Bilongo coming into the side.
It was an immensely positive opening to proceedings too as Rovers went on the hunt for an early lead. Hutchinson set the tone inside three minutes when his thumping effort crashed off the underside of the crossbar.
The returning Bilongo was heavily involved from the off too and twice whipped in teasing crosses for Luke McCormick to attack. The first was wide of the far post but the second, just minutes after, forced Crawley goalkeeper Connal Trueman into a tremendous save; tipping the header onto the woodwork.
The Pirates continued to press forward and brilliant work in the middle third from the home side allowed Shaq Forde to collect possession high and drive into the box. The forward went for goal with his right boot but a well-timed challenge saw the shot - otherwise certain to find the net - instead go behind for a corner.
McCormick was again involved moments later when he threaded in Hutchinson, with the No19 forcing another fine save by Trueman.
The visitors saw their chances largely limited but a last-ditch challenge from Bilongo was required to deny Panutche Camara after his turn into the Rovers penalty area. All level at the interval.
The first changes came a little over ten minutes into the second half with the introduction of experienced duo Scott Sinclair and Grant Ward, replacing Kamil Conteh and Hutchinson. It was the former with the first chance of note, playing a lovely one-two with Martin but getting his lobbed attempt wrong, sending the effort over the bar.
Promise Omochere made his return from injury midway through the second half, replacing Martin for his first appearance since the away clash at Reading.
Ronan Darcy fizzed a low effort wide of Josh Griffiths’ goal as the away side sought to punish the hosts for their missed opportunities and, as the match ticked into the final ten minutes, the No1 was in the right place to make a superb double-save to deny the visitors again.
The Reds looked the more likely to take the three points in the closing exchanges and, again, Griffiths had to be on hand to deny a fantastic strike - this time by Ibrahim.
But, despite the late push by both sides, the scoreline remained the same as it did at 3pm, with each taking a point for their efforts.
Bristol Rovers: Griffiths, Wilson ©, Mola, Taylor, Martin (Omochere 65), Hutchinson (Sinclair 57), Conteh (Ward 57), McCormick (Thomas 76), Bilongo, Forde, Lindsay
Subs not used: Hall (GK), Garrett, Forbes
Booked: Mola, Sinclair
Crawley Town: Trueman, Barker, Anderson (Adeyemo 71), Swan (Showunmi 71), Darcy ©, Camara, Hepburn-Murphy (John-Jules 77), Kelly (Roles 87), Mukene, Ibrahim, Mullarkey
Subs not used: Sheik (GK), Fish, Tanimu
Booked: Anderson, Barker
Referee: Sam Allison
Attendance: 7,411
