Bristol Rovers 3-2 Charlton Athletic
Sky Bet League One, The Memorial Stadium, Tuesday 1 October 2024
Fantastic finishes by Scott Sinclair, Jamie Lindsay and James Wilson saw Bristol Rovers put the ghost of a sorrowful September firmly in the rearview mirror, securing a 3-2 win over Charlton Athletic.
Captain Sinclair capped a classy first-half effort from the home side, bending in his second goal in as many games from the edge of the area to give the Gas the half-time advantage.
Midfielder Lindsay matched Sinclair’s effort with a super strike of his own early in the second half, finding the top corner from 18 yards, before Wilson crowned his own outstanding individual effort with a deserved headed goal ten minutes later.
Charlton threatened a late come-back, getting themselves on the score-sheet through defender Alex Mitchell on 78 minutes to start their push for an unlikely route back into the fixture; one which inched nervously closer when Matt Godden volleyed in with three minutes left of added time in the second half.
But Rovers held firm when it mattered most to ensure all three points in a hard-fought fixture.
Manager Taylor made four changes to the side that was edged out by Wycombe Wanderers three days prior, and the early intent from the starting XI was clear.
The returning Bryant Bilongo set the marker for a largely impressive first half by the Gas, winning possession deep in his own half before confidently striding forward, into the Charlton box and winning a corner inside the first minute. From the resulting set-piece, Jamie Lindsay’s delivery caused chaos, and James Wilson fired over with a left-footed effort.
Jack Hunt was another returning figure, featuring in the starting XI for the first time this campaign, and his delivery on 21 minutes found Promise Omochere in the box. The No9’s swivelling effort was just lacking in power and failed to trouble Will Mannion.
Pushed on by the passionate home support at The Mem, Rovers kept up the pressure and got their just rewards on the half-an-hour mark. And what a reward it was as captain Sinclair collected possession on the edge of the Addicks area and curled in a stunning finish with his supposedly weaker left boot into the top corner.
The advantage was no more than the Gas deserved for what was objectively one of the team’s better first half showings so far this season. It was almost made even better on 39 minutes when Clinton Mola’s low ball was almost turned in by the oncoming Omochere, only to be held by the outstretched gloves of goalkeeper Mannion.
Charlton’s attacking output was limited in the opening 45 minutes, largely thanks to the resolute display by the Rovers’ back-line, but the visitors came closest to a first-half leveller on 43 minutes when skipper Lloyd Jones headed a close-range effort over the bar.
Rovers showed the same early intent at the start of the second half with Bilongo again bringing his energy into the Charlton box, winning the home side a corner, before Charlton’s Conor Coventry tried his luck with a speculative strike that Josh Griffiths had to tip away.
Coventry’s effort was a timely reminder of the dangers of a one-goal advantage, something the Gas quickly changed on 57 minutes when Jamie Lindsay superbly curled home his first goal in the blue-and-white quarters. Fine work from Omochere on the edge of the box crafted the chance and the No9 played the ball to the Scot, who set himself before bending his shot past Mannion.
Charlton continued to hunt for a way back into the game with headers from Jones and Mitchell being cleared off the line and sent over the bar, respectively.
Just moments later Rovers’ Wilson got a headed chance of his own, meeting Omochere’s flick-on from Mola’s cross to power in at the back stick and give the Gas a merited three-goal lead.
Charlton would reduce the deficit with eleven minutes to play as centre-back Mitchell pounced unmarked at the back post to steer a strike over the line, before substitute Godden netted in added time to send nerves through the Gasheads in attendance at The Mem.
But Taylor’s men held firm to ensure their trio of goals resulted in the well-earned three points.
Bristol Rovers: Griffiths, Wilson, Mola, Sinclair © (Forde 78), Omochere (O’Donkor 78), Sotiriou (McCormick 71), Taylor, Conteh, Bilongo, Lindsay (Garrett 71), Hunt (Forbes 71)
Subs not used: Thomas, Hutchinson
Goals: Sinclair 30, Lindsay 58, Wilson 68
Booked: Conteh,
Charlton Athletic: Mannion, Gillesphey, Mitchell, Jones ©, Coventry (Doherty 80), T. Campbell, Berry (Leaburn 61), Ahadme (Aneke 54), Edwards (Ramsay 80), Anderton, Watson (Godden 61)
Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer (GK), A. Campbell
Goals: Mitchell 79, Godden 90+3
Booked: Coventry
Referee: David Rock
Attendance: 6,638
