Luton Town 1-0 Bristol Rovers

Midfielder Andrew Shinnie's first goal of the season was enough for Luton to beat Bristol Rovers at Kenilworth Road.

Shinnie struck just after the hour mark to hand struggling Rovers a fifth defeat in eight League One games this season.

The hosts had a good chance early on, Matty Pearson heading Jorge Grant's corner over, while Grant's close-range header was well saved by Jack Bonham in the Rovers goal.

Luton's Jack Stacey had an effort disallowed before Bonham denied Elliot Lee and Grant ballooned the rebound well over.

The visiting goalkeeper also saved impressively from Pelly Ruddock on two occasions while Glen Rea went close with a curling effort.

After the break Rovers sub Tom Nichols sent a header off target, before Luton finally found the breakthrough.

A free-kick was only half-cleared as far as Shinnie, who rifled an effort low beyond Bonham.

Lee tested Bonham twice more, the second one producing a fine save by the Rovers keeper.

Town's win was soured in the final 10 minutes by what looked to be a serious leg injury to on-loan Leeds midfielder Eunan O'Kane, while Shinnie was denied by Bonham in added time as he looked to seal the win with a second.

Match report supplied by the Press Association.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Luton

• 36Shea
• 7Stacey
• 6Pearson
• 5Bradley
• 3Potts
• 17Mpanzu
• 16Rea
• 11ShinnieBooked at 50minsSubstituted forSheehanat 90+7'minutes
• 18GrantSubstituted forO'Kaneat 75'minutesSubstituted forJustinat 88'minutes
• 10Lee
• 19Collins

Substitutes

• 2Justin
• 4McCormack
• 14Cornick
• 27Jarvis
• 32O'Kane
• 40Isted
• 44Sheehan

Bristol Rovers

• 13Bonham
• 15J ClarkeBooked at 14mins
• 5Craig
• 4Lockyer
• 29Martin
• 26MatthewsSubstituted forNicholsat 28'minutes
• 6Upson
• 8O Clarke
• 14Lines
• 23BennettSubstituted forJakubiakat 73'minutes
• 9PayneSubstituted forReillyat 54'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Leadbitter
• 10Nichols
• 16Broadbent
• 17Jakubiak
• 20Reilly
• 21Smith
• 24Sinclair

Referee:

Robert Lewis

Attendance:

8,912

Match Stats

Home TeamLutonAway TeamBristol Rovers

Possession

Home57%

Away43%

Shots

Home18

Away3

Shots on Target

Home10

Away0

Corners

Home8

Away6

Fouls

Home13

Away17

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Luton Town 1, Bristol Rovers 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+13'

Second Half ends, Luton Town 1, Bristol Rovers 0.

Posted at 90'+13'

Attempt saved. James Collins (Luton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Posted at 90'+12'

James Collins (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+12'

Foul by Chris Lines (Bristol Rovers).

Posted at 90'+10'

Foul by James Collins (Luton Town).

Posted at 90'+10'

James Clarke (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+9'

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+9'

Foul by Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers).

Substitution

Posted at 90'+7'

Substitution, Luton Town. Alan Sheehan replaces Andrew Shinnie.

Posted at 90'+7'

Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Matty Pearson.

Posted at 90'+6'

Attempt saved. Andrew Shinnie (Luton Town) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 90'+3'

Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Joe Martin.

Posted at 90'+2'

Matty Pearson (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers).

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by James Collins (Luton Town).

Posted at 90'+2'

Chris Lines (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Matty Pearson.

Posted at 89'

James Justin (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers).

Substitution

Posted at 88'

Substitution, Luton Town. James Justin replaces Eunan O'Kane because of an injury.

Posted at 79'

Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Matty Pearson.

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. Matty Pearson (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.

Posted at 77'

Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Tom Lockyer.

Posted at 76'

Attempt blocked. Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, Luton Town. Eunan O'Kane replaces Jorge Grant.

Posted at 74'

Tom Nichols (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 74'

Foul by Andrew Shinnie (Luton Town).

Substitution

Posted at 73'

Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Alex Jakubiak replaces Kyle Bennett.

Posted at 72'

Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Jack Bonham.

Posted at 71'

Attempt saved. Elliot Lee (Luton Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Kyle Bennett (Bristol Rovers).

Posted at 71'

Glen Rea (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 69'

Attempt missed. Tom Lockyer (Bristol Rovers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.

Posted at 69'

Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Sonny Bradley (Luton Town).

Posted at 68'

Foul by Tom Nichols (Bristol Rovers).

Posted at 68'

Glen Rea (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 66'

Attempt saved. Elliot Lee (Luton Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner.

Goal!

Posted at 62'

Goal! Luton Town 1, Bristol Rovers 0. Andrew Shinnie (Luton Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner.

Show more updates