Bristol Rovers v Northampton Town

Bristol Rovers v Northampton Town

SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Saturday January 7th, 3.00pm
Memorial Stadium

BRISTOL ROVERS 5

Billy Bodin 8

Ellis Harrison 18, 21, 25, 55

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0

Attendance: 8,424 (321 Cobblers fans)

Bristol Rovers: Will Puddy, Ollie Clarke, Tom Lockyer, Mark McChrystal, Lee Brown, Billy Bodin (sub Liam Lawrence 80), Chris Lines, James Clarke, Cristian Montano (sub Byron Moore 60), Ellis Harrison, Matt Taylor (sub Jermaine Easter 71)

Subs not used: Kelle Roos, Lee Mansell, Stuart Sinclair, Rory Gaffney

Cobblers: Adam Smith, David Buchanan, Zander Diamond, Rod McDonald, Hiram Boateng, Matt Taylor, Harry Beautyman (sub John-Joe O'Toole 28), Paul Anderson (sub JJ Hooper 46), Sam Hoskins, Alex Revell, Gregg Wylde (sub Marc Richards 28)

Subs not used: David Cornell, Alfie Potter, Jak McCourt, Raheem Hanley

Referee: Gavin Ward

Booked:
Bristol Rovers: Mark McChrystal (45)
Cobblers: Sam Hoskins (67, 1st of the season)

10 cautions on or before 11 April; 2 match suspension

15 cautions at any time in season; 3 match suspension

Sent off:
Bristol Rovers: none
Cobblers: none

Sendings off: 2 cautions in one game; 1 match suspension but cautions do not count towards above totals. Other sendings off; 1 or 3 match suspension. Extra match ban for additional sendings off.

Rob Page was forced into making a trio of changes to his defence for the trip to Bristol Rovers with Lewin Nyatanga (ill), Gabriel Zakuani (international duty) and Aaron Phillips (hamstring) all unavailable for selection. Rod McDonald partnered Zander Diamond at centre-half while Paul Anderson began the game at right-back with Brendan Moloney also still sidelined. Further forward January arrivals Gregg Wylde and Hiram Boateng both made their first starts for the club after joining on loan from Crystal Palace and Millwall respectively.

Bristol Rovers' Billy Bodin broke the deadlock in the 8th minute at the Memorial Stadium, firing a shot past Adam Smith from 25 yards.

Ellis Harrison doubled Rovers lead with a neat flick at the near post, referee Gavin Ward giving the goal despite an initial off-side flag from the linesman.

Striker Harrison quickly made it 3-0, finishing from close range after Mark McChrystal’s header was cleared off the line.

Lee Brown then set up Harrison to complete a quickfire hat-trick, 4-0.

In a bid to stem the tide and turn things around, Marc Richards and John-Joe O’Toole came on in a double change, Gregg Wylde and Harry Beautyman replaced.

A good interception from McChrystal denied Sam Hoskins while Richards went close from a Matt Taylor free-kick as the Cobblers looked to get themselves back into the game with a goal before half-time.

The Cobblers were forced into making their third and final change at half-time after Paul Anderson picked up an injury in first half stoppage time, JJ Hooper coming on with David Buchanan now filling in at right-back and Matt Taylor at left-back.

Despite a positive start to the second half from the away side it was Rovers who extended their lead on 54 minutes, Ellis Harrison adding another from close range, his fourth goal of the afternoon.

Hooper shot straight at Will Puddy before a blow to the head for Zander Diamond seemed set to further compound the Cobblers injury woes. The Scotsman was however able to continue after receiving lengthy treatment.

Town kept pushing until the end but the damage had been done in the first half and the game ended in a 5-0 victory for Rovers.

BRISTOL ROVERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)

SHOTS ON TARGET: (5) 8
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (3) 8
CORNERS: (2) 4
FOULS: (3) 11
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 1

SHOTS OFF TARGET: (2) 6
CORNERS: (1) 2
FOULS: (3) 6
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 1

The above stats are recorded by club staff. The stats shown elsewhere on this page are recorded by Opta

Match Reports