Attendance: 10,822 (Away 280)

 

Match Referee: Paul Melin (Surrey)

 

 

CLICK HERE FOR FULL MATCH STATISTICS AND TEAM LINE-UPS

 

With a two goal lead at half-time, at their bogey ground, the Rovers fans should have known that the final 45 minutes of the game would be painful and so it proved as the home side wiped out the half-time deficit within fourteen minutes of the re-start and then took the points just nine minutes later.

 

Rovers had an own goal and a first Club goal from Paul McLaren to thank for them being in an undeserved 2-0 lead at half-time but what followed was nothing short of a horror story for the 280 travelling Rovers fans as Bristol City plundered three goals in the space of 23 minutes to take the points.

 

Ronnie Moore was forced to make three changes to the side that drew 1-1 at home to Northampton last Saturday as suspension ruled out Robbie Stockdale and John Mullin whilst striker Chris Greenacre didn’t travel due to flu.

 

In their places came Carl Tremarco at left-back with Shane Sherriff moving to right-back, and Danny Harrison in the centre of midfield in place of John Mullin.  Chris Greenacre was replaced by Calvin Zola as Gareth Taylor’s strike partner.

 

Youngster Craig Curran took his place on the bench once again alongside Gavin Ward, Steven Jennings, Kevin Ellison and the returning Jason McAteer.

 

The opening twenty or so minutes were a relatively dull affair with few clear cut chances falling to either side although in terms of possession Rovers were battered by the home side who could have been four goals to the good on anther day.

 

Rovers had a couple of chances of their own but with Zola and Taylor looking clueless upfront, it seemed a breakthrough would be a long time in coming.

 

However, Rovers took a somewhat undeserved lead in the 26^th minute with their first goal at Ashton Gate since almost exactly the same day in 1999 when Alan Mahon scored in a 1-1draw.  Calvin Zola was fouled on the edge left hand edge of the Bristol penalty area and from the resulting free-kick by Davies, Shane Sherriff played the ball back across goal where it was inadvertently turned into his own net by Jamie McCombe.

 

A minute later, Joe Hart thwarted a one-on-one with Phil Jevons whilst the home side almost had a penalty when Ian Goodison appeared to handle the ball in the area but the referee waved play on.

 

Ian Goodison left the field briefly and returned with a headband following a cut above his eye after a challenge.

 

Just a minute before half time, Rovers doubled their lead when a flick by Calvin Zola was poorly cleared and fell to Paul McLaren some twenty yards from goal.  The midfielder made no mistake and buried his chance for his first Rovers goal.

 

To even be ahead at half-time was something of a surprise so to be two goals to the good was remarkable indeed.  However, Rovers fans should know by now that this season even a two-goal lead is not straightforward and the signs were ominous just three minutes into the second half as the visitors pulled a goal back.

 

A corner from the right from Jamie McAllister was met by the head of former Luton Town player Enoch Showumnni and despite appeals by Joe Hart for a foul on him, the goal stood and Rovers fans groaned collectively in anticipation of what may have been about to follow.

 

Just as in the first half, Rovers were being outfought but the difference in this second 45 minutes was that the home side seemed able to take their chances and they were level in the game just eleven minutes after pulling one back.

 

When Paul McLaren made a great effort to block a Steve Brooker shot in the Rovers penalty area, the ball rebounded to the feet of Phil Jevons who made no mistake with a tidy finish across the goal and into the opposite bottom corner to equalise.

 

Any Rovers fans who may have joked about a comeback at half-time would have begun to realise by now that it was no joke after all as reality set in and just eight minutes after Jevon’s goal, the misery of the visiting fans was complete.

 

After a double substitution by the home side that saw Jenison Myrie-Williams and new signing from Cheltenham Town Brian Wilson join the action in place of Bradley Orr and Phil Jevons, one of the new arrivals scored with his first touch if the ball.

 

A shot from Steve Brooker clattered a Rovers post and the rebound was hit home Jenison Myrie-Williams to put the home side into the lead.

 

On 75 minutes, Kevin Ellison was brought on but surprisingly it was in place of the woeful Chris Shuker with Davies moving to the right wing although many travelling fans had expected Calvin Zola to go off instead with Steve Davies moving upfront.

 

Late in the game, youngster Craig Curran came on for his first-team debut in place of Steve Davies but he was unable to help Rovers grab the equaliser they need.

 

So Rovers yet again threw away a two goal lead but with two home games in four days coming up that they really need to make count, Rovers are still well placed in League One as long as they can pick up their recent form.

 

Crewe are the visitors to Prenton Park on Tuesday Night for the third re-arranged game between the two sides following waterlogged and fog postponements in quick succession prior to Christmas.

 

 

Ian Goodison – Despite the defensive collapse, Ian looked back to his early season form today and was outstanding when Rovers were under pressure in the first half.

 

 

"It's happened too often.  We were cruising in the first half and had a two goal lead.  The lads speak in the dressing room at half time about keeping it tight and we said they were dangerous from set plays.  We gave away an unnecessary corner and it's 2-1.”

“We were a charity at the back today.  As soon as they scored we got deeper and deeper and the pitch got bigger so the midfield couldn't support them.”

"You've got to show a bit of character. if they get a goal, they get a goal.  You win the game 2-1.  We don't know how to close the game out.  At half time we were a point behind them in the league, now we're seven.  I don't know whether that's because the back four seem content as there's only five of them fighting for spots.  If they think the strikers were good here, wait till they see the ones on Tuesday.

"It's total frustration for everybody.  The supporters came all the way down here and were happy at half time. But if we're not careful we're going to throw this away."

 

 

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