Match ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Tranmere Rovers 0.
Bristol Rovers claimed their first League One victory of the season with a 2-0 victory over nine-man Tranmere, who had Corey Blackett-Taylor and Oliver Banks sent off at the Memorial Stadium.
The hosts had much the better of the first half and should have gone ahead on the half hour when Josh Hare crossed for the unmarked Tyler Smith, who headed wide from a central position 10 yards out.
The home side took the lead after 38 minutes when Hare crossed from the right and Jonson Clarke-Harris rose above his marker to head back across goal and just inside the far post.
Blackett-Taylor was the first player to see red three minutes after the break for irresponsibly raising an arm into Ollie Clarke's face and felling the Rovers player right in front of referee Gavin Ward.
Banks collected a second caution for a foul on Luke Leahy just before the hour mark, leaving the visitors with a near-impossible task.
And - with Tranmere down to nine men - Smith made sure of the points from the penalty spot after 88 minutes, sending goalkeeper Scott Davies the wrong way after he was brought down by George Ray.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Bristol Rovers
Formation 5-3-2
- 32Jaakkola
- 22Hare
- 16Davies
- 5Craig
- 15Kilgour
- 11Leahy
- 8O Clarke
- 6Upson
- 4OgogoSubstituted forBennettat 72'minutes
- 9Clarke-HarrisSubstituted forAdeboyejoat 75'minutes
- 17SmithBooked at 88minsSubstituted forNicholsat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 1van Stappershoef
- 10Nichols
- 18Kelly
- 23Bennett
- 24Menayese
- 29Adeboyejo
- 33Rodman
Tranmere
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Davies
- 22WilsonSubstituted forHepburn-Murphyat 75'minutes
- 5RayBooked at 68mins
- 6MontheBooked at 13mins
- 3Ridehalgh
- 28BanksBooked at 57mins
- 17Perkins
- 7Morris
- 11Jennings
- 23Blackett-TaylorBooked at 48mins
- 10Ferrier
Substitutes
- 4Nelson
- 8Potter
- 9Mullin
- 18Hepburn-Murphy
- 20Gilmour
- 25Pilling
- 45Payne
- Referee:
- Gavin Ward
- Attendance:
- 6,802
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away22
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 2, Tranmere Rovers 0.
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Attempt saved. Tom Nichols (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kyle Bennett with a through ball.
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Foul by Tom Nichols (Bristol Rovers).
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Liam Ridehalgh (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Ollie Clarke (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (Tranmere Rovers).
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Tom Nichols replaces Tyler Smith.
Booking
Tyler Smith (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal!
Goal! Bristol Rovers 2, Tranmere Rovers 0. Tyler Smith (Bristol Rovers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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Penalty Bristol Rovers. Tyler Smith draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty conceded by George Ray (Tranmere Rovers) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Attempt missed. Luke Leahy (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Hand ball by Emmanuel Monthe (Tranmere Rovers).
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Attempt missed. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (Tranmere Rovers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Liam Ridehalgh with a cross.
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Foul by Victor Adeboyejo (Bristol Rovers).
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Emmanuel Monthe (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Kyle Bennett (Bristol Rovers).
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George Ray (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Victor Adeboyejo replaces Jonson Clarke-Harris.