TLG Stat-Pack – Bristol Rovers form

Last updated : 26 August 2004 By Robert Craven

Tuesday 24th August 2004 – Carling Cup first round

Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Bristol Rovers 2

Junior Agogo was rested against Brighton after his excursions
Bristol Rovers: Kevin Miller; Craig Hinton, Robbie Ryan, Christian Edwards, Steven Elliott; Stuart Campbell, James Hunt, Paul Trollope, Ali Gibb; Lee Thorpe (David Savage 87), Richard Walker (Junior Agogo 72). Subs not used: Jamie Forrester, Craig Disley, Ijah Anderson.

Goals: Thorpe 25, Walker 30

Booked: Ryan, Thorpe

Attendance: 4,217


FootyMAD report (from
www.brighton-mad.co.uk):


“Brighton's miserable start to the season continued as they crashed out of the Carling Cup. Mark McGhee's struggling side, bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship, seemed on course for their first win of the season when Guy Butters gave them an early lead.


But goals in the space of five minutes for Rovers stand-in strikers Lee Thorpe and Richard Walker clinched a surprise win for the early joint leaders in League Two.


Brighton dominated from the kick-off and were rewarded in the 11th minute when Butters headed in Darren Currie's in-swinging corner from close range.


It was all one-way traffic towards the Rovers' goal until they burst into life in dramatic fashion.


Thorpe equalised in the 25th minute, gliding past Butters to score with a precise shot.


Brighton were still recovering when keeper Michel Kuipers made a brilliant one-handed stop from a downward header by Paul Trollope.


The ball broke loose for Ali Gibb to cross for Walker to convert from close range.


The contribution from the front men vindicated the decision by Rovers' manager Ian Atkins to rest top-scorer Junior Agogo and his regular partner Jamie Forrester.


Brighton tried to find a way back into the tie after Kuipers had parried a well-struck volley from Walker.


Albert Jarrett was narrowly off-target with a rasping, angled drive and Kevin Miller, the Rovers' captain and keeper kept out Leon Knight's diving header with his feet.


Knight had strong claims for a penalty rejected when Christian Edwards appeared to hold him back as he tried to get on the end of a cross from Currie.


Miller denied Knight again right at the death with another feet-first stop to send Rovers into the second round.”


Saturday 21st August 2004 – League Two

Darlington 0 Bristol Rovers 1

Bristol Rovers: Kevin Miller; John Anderson, Robbie Ryan, Christian Edwards, Steven Elliott; Stuart Campbell, James Hunt, Paul Trollope (David Savage 79), Ali Gibb; Jamie Forrester (Lee Thorpe 63), Junior Agogo (Craig Hinton 89). Subs not used: Craig Disley, Richard Walker.

Goal: Agogo 77

Booked: Elliott

Attendance: 3,661


FootyMAD report (from
www.bristolrovers-mad.co.uk):


“Darlington manager David Hodgson is to step up his search for a striker after seeing his side dominate the game but crash to a 1-0 home defeat against Bristol Rovers.


The Pirates of Bristol plundered all three points thanks to a soft goal from striker Junior Agogo midway through the second half.


Bristol made the long journey north worthwhile but they appeared tired at times and conceded plenty of possession to the home side who failed to take advantage.


The visitors began the game brightly and both Agogo and fellow striker Jamie Forrester caused Darlington problems in the opening 10 minutes of the game. But from then on Darlington dominated but, without a striker of the calibre of the departed Barry Conlon, they failed to take their many chances.


The Bristol defence were tormented by winger Neil Wainwright throughout the game and the former Sunderland man must wonder how, despite many crosses from the right, his side failed to score in the 90 minutes.


In fact Darlington's one and only shot on target came in the 78th minute when Craig Russell found the space inside the area to send in a low drive that was easily held by Rovers keeper Kevin Miller.


The visitors were not much better, although they did manage two efforts on target.


And it was in the 77th minute when Agogo sent in a left-foot shot that lacked power, but somehow bobbled beyond the outstretched arm of Sam Russell.


Ten minutes from time Darlington felt that they should have had a penalty when a goal bound shot from defender Jonathan Hutchinson appeared to strike an arm. The referee was unimpressed though and allowed the game to continue.”


Saturday 14th August 2004 – League Two

Bristol Rovers 2 Notts County 1

Bristol Rovers: Kevin Miller; John Anderson, Robbie Ryan, Christian Edwards, Steven Elliott; Stuart Campbell (David Savage 89), James Hunt, Paul Trollope, Ali Gibb (Craig Hinton 85); Junior Agogo, Jamie Forrester (Lee Thorpe 76). Subs not used: Richard Walker, Lewis Haldane.

Goals: Edwards 62, Agogo 81

Booked: Agogo

Attendance: 8,225


FootyMAD report (from
www.bristolrovers-mad.co.uk):


“The usual sharp edge between these old rivals was missing for an hour until Bristol Rovers' Ali Gibb floated in a long cross which became a corner.


Christian Edwards came up from the backline to head in the set piece and the game was suddenly alive.


Even more so minutes later, when a mistake by Edwards allowed Glynn Hurst to steal an equaliser as he met Paul Bolland's cross from the right.


However, Rovers, who had been struggling until their goal, went on to take the points. Junior Agogo, racing onto a ball from Stuart Campbell, clipped the winner with the outside of his right foot.


It was his third goal of the new season and his exuberant celebration brought him a yellow card.


After drawing their first two games since relegation Notts had set out to assert themselves.


For a long time in the first half Rovers hardly had a meaningful kick and could've been two behind when they failed to deal with Matthew Gill's long throws.


From the first Hurst should have tucked the shot away and from the next John Anderson thumped a shot from Mike Edwards off the line.


It hardly got better for Rovers because their keeper Kevin Miller was often reluctant to come of his line and caused uncertainty in defence. Miller's dithering could have seen County go ahead just before the break, but he redeemed himself by spreading expertly to deny Gavin Gordon.


Notts were always close marking danger man Agogo and it took the urgings of manager Ian Atkins in the half-time dressing room to give Rovers a greater sense of urgency.


Agogo stepped up his running, but this was always a game looking for a touch of control and inspiration and this was a long time coming.”


Tuesday 10th August 2004 – League Two

Bristol Rovers 2 Bury 2

Bristol Rovers: Kevin Miller; John Anderson, Robbie Ryan, Christian Edwards, Steven Elliott; Stuart Campbell (Ryan Williams 76), James Hunt, Paul Trollope (David Savage 56), Ali Gibb; Junior Agogo, Jamie Forrester (Richard Walker 81). Subs not used: Craig Hinton, Lee Thorpe

Goals: Forrester 43 (pen), John Anderson

Booked: none

Attendance: 8,705


FootyMAD report (from
www.bristolrovers-mad.co.uk):


“Bury gave away two penalties and had a man sent off but still battled from behind to take a point.


They scored first against a rebuilt Rovers side but all seemed lost when they trailed 2-1 and had Colin Woodthorpe dismissed for a second booking.


Both sides were eager to build on their Saturday wins and Bury's David Nugent fired in an early testing shot while for Rovers Ali Gibb saw a long shot hit the bar.


Nugent then won a corner and Rovers were caught out when Paul Trollope gave Dwayne Mattis too much room and the midfielder scored with a free header.

Trollope was never likely to make that mistake again but Rovers almost stumbled into further trouble as pressure came from another corner.


Mattis continued to be the pivotal player for Bury and could have scored again when Nugent squared the ball to him - but his straightforward shot didn't have enough power.


It began to look like an expensive miss when Rovers were given a dubious penalty five minutes before the break.


Again Mattis and Trollope were centre-stage with the Bury player giving away a free-kick 15 yards inside his half.


Trollope swung the kick to the right and led the appeal for a penalty when Junior Agogo went down under a push. It sparked an extraordinary ten minutes either side of half-time.


Jamie Forrester sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot. Then early in the second half John Anderson put Rovers ahead from a corner.


Within a minute Forrester had a second penalty chance when he was brought down Colin Woodthorpe. This time he went for the opposite corner but Glyn Garner smothered the shot.


Woodthorpe was then sent off when he brought down Agogo.


Bury deserved their point, courtesy of a goal by Brian Barry-Murphy. Unfortunately his celebrations earned him a booking.”


Saturday 7th August 2004 – League Two

Mansfield Town 0 Bristol Rovers 2

Bristol Rovers: Kevin Miller; Craig Hinton, Robbie Ryan, Christian Edwards, John Anderson; Stuart Campbell (Steven Elliott 69), James Hunt, Paul Trollope, Ali Gibb; Junior Agogo (Richard Walker 89), Jamie Forrester (David Savage 64). Subs not used: Ryan Williams, Lee Thorpe.

Goals: Agogo 31, 52

Booked: Gibb

Attendance: 5,709


FootyMAD report (from
www.mansfieldtown-mad.co.uk):


“Rampant Rovers destroyed last season's play-off finalists as two Junior Agogo goals gave Ian Atkins victory in his first match in charge of the Gas.


Agogo ran Mansfield ragged in a one-sided second half and only poor finishing denied the striker a deserved hat-trick.


Mansfield were unlucky to have goals ruled out in both halves and struck the woodwork through lively debutant Derek Asamoah late on, but rarely looked like earning a point.

It was one of Rovers' new boys Stuart Campbell who had the first chance, his deflected 18-yard drive well saved by the sprawling Kevin Pilkington.


Mansfield dominated the opening 20 minutes though the pace of Asamoah, Colin Larkin and Wayne Corden and had the ball in the net in the 13th minute, only for Asamoah's tap in to be ruled offside.


Asamoah again caused problems in the 23rd minute when his deft flick was only held at the second attempt by Kevin Miller.


The save proved vital as Rovers gained control of the match. Campbell, Jamie Forrester both shot wide from long range and then Forrester was denied a breakthrough at the end of a sweeping cross field move by Dave Artell's last-ditch tackle.


Another sweeping move ended with Rovers taking a 30th minute lead. Agogo broke from a Mansfield free-kick deep inside his own half and released Ali Gibb on the right wing before racing into the area to convert the final cross.


Larkin twice went close to an equaliser either side of half-time. First Miller beat away his close range piledriver and then his curling drive brushed the outside of the post.


Four minutes into the second half the game was over when Gibbs again raced clear and crossed from the right for Agogo to tap in.


Agogo squandered several chances to complete his hat-trick, but Mansfield knew it was not their day when Asamoah hit the bar and then Artell had a goal ruled out for pushing.”


Summary – The Shrimpers vs. the Pirates form

Southend United

L0-2 (away; West Ham United; Carling Cup)

D0-0 (home; Cambridge United; League Two)

L0-2 (away; Rochdale; League Two)

D1-1 (away; Lincoln City; League Two; Wayne Gray [pen])

L0-2 (home; Cheltenham Town; League Two)


(Won 0, Drawn 2, Lost 3, Scored 1, Conceded 7)


Bristol Rovers

W2-1 (away; Brighton & Hove Albion; Carling Cup; Lee Thorpe, Richard Walker)

W1-0 (away; Darlington; League Two; Junior Agogo)

W2-1 (home; Notts County; League Two; Christian Edwards, Junior Agogo)

D2-2 (home; Bury; League Two; Jamie Forrester [pen], John Anderson)

W2-0 (away; Mansfield Town; League Two; Junior Agogo 2)

(Won 4, Drawn 1, Lost 0, Scored 9, Conceded 4)


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com