BRFC v The Peterborough Posh - Match Thread

Dave, very much so. Every single one of our lot was superb today. There was nobody who (again) let us down.

There's more unity in this squad than any I have had the pleasure to watch. They play for us, themselves, Joey and their own integrity. There's not one player in the entire squad who steals a living.

We more than deserved that win today and I feel proud to be a Rovers supporter yet again tonight.

UTFG 🏴‍☠️⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇸👍

You're right.  Just watched the highlights and it was two different players.  Will watch the highlights before commenting next time!

Funnily enough I bought a couple of those down here in kiwi-land but at £4.50 a bottle it's only for special occasions like this.

Doesn't go too well on the cornflakes though so may have to wait until beer o'clock.

Stats: BRFC 1 Peterborough 0 - 61% -31% - Shots 19-9 - On Target 5-1 - Corners 9-2 - Fouls 5-16 - Reds 0-1 - Referee: Peter Wright - Attendance: 8,635 (518 away)

Scott Sinclair was the hero as a single strike was enough to see off promotion favourites Peterborough.

Rovers made one change from last week, with Connolly replacing Gibbons in the backline. Peterborough named former Gas striker Jonson Clarke-Harris on the bench.

The Gas flew out of the blocks and Sinclair delivered a teasing cross in the first minute that the visitors just managed to scramble away as Coburn and Finley looked to capitalise.

At the other end, Thompson lined up a shot from 30 yards but it flew well wide of Belshaw's goal. Aaron Collins nearly opened the scoring in the 12th minute as he latched on to a Finley pass and shot firmly on target, forcing a decent stop from Bergstrom.

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Evans was yards away from finding the back of the net after good work down the left flank from Gordon, but the midfielder's shot flew narrowly wide. Thirty seconds later, the Filton Ave Figo smashed a shot over the bar from a similar position, after Sinclair teed him up.

A decent ball down the line from Thomas found Coburn in the 33rd minute. He found Collins but the striker's shot was charged down. There was nothing to separate the teams that began the day in 4th and 17th place.

Marriott raced through the middle as the Posh went route one, but was flagged offside. Next to threaten was Mason-Clark, who reached the byline but his driven cross was claimed by a diving Belshaw.

The last time a Grant McCann side came to The Mem, his Hull side came away 3-1 victors, but his side was having little joy in the final third up to this point.

Evans then drove forward and won the Gas a corner in the 39th minute. He took it himself but the cross was just too high for Coburn and Connolly had to be alert to clear as the visitors broke away.

A deft touch from Coburn nearly resulted in Collins setting himself up for an acrobatic effort before a block on an Evans shot saw the Gas win a corner as the half drew to a close. Evans' delivery evaded Bergstrom but Thomas couldn't capitalise.

Rovers were soon on the attack and Sinclair turned Butler inside out, but unfortunately lost his footing as he advanced into the area. Thomas was booked for a late challenge in the 50th minute, before Sinclair shot low on target from distance, which Bergstrom smothered.

The game was lit up in the 53rd minute as Collins played a lovely through ball for Sinclair, and the number seven fired home to put Rovers a goal to the good.

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Play was halted in the 57th minute as Peterborough's Mason-Clark slid into the corner flag and injured himself, meaning Clarke-Harris entered the action. Sinclair was causing havoc down the right and his cross was spilled by Bergstrom and Gordon was inches away from opening his Gas account.

Collins nearly made it two in the 68th minute after being put through by Gordon, but his shot was deflected behind for a corner.

Referee Wright was being lenient as several shirts were being pulled in the box. The visitors cleared their lines, before Evans had the Gas back on the attack but overhit his cross.

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The visitors were reduced to ten men in the 74th minute as Edwards was shown a straight red for chopping down Coburn, who was through on goal. From the free-kick, Evans blasted on target but the wall did its job and Rovers had a corner rather than a second goal.

Finley won a free-kick in the 77th minute, and Sinclair was fouled a minute later for another as the visitors lost their discipline. Gibson should have made it two in the 80th minute, first toe-poking at Bergstrom, before firing the rebound over the bar.

Finley was everywhere in the second-half and snuffed out a Peterborough move on the right-hand flank, before the visitors were gifted a way back into the game with a free-kick on the edge of the box in the 83rd minute.

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Clarke-Harris took it but fired five yards over the bar and The Mem gave a collective sigh of relief. Collins then conceded a free-kick out wide in the 87th minute and the ten men were inches away from an equaliser; Clarke Harris' boot not quite connecting from close range.

Evans wasted a three-on-one chance a minute later, before his cross was too near Bergstrom, who launched clear, Gordon scuffed a header and Belshaw had to be alert to keep out a Jones shot.

The Gas held firm, despite eight minutes of injury time, and secured a vital win.

Next up for Rovers is the Emirates FA Cup Second Round game against Boreham Wood, which kicks off at 2pm on Sunday 27th November at The Memorial Stadium.

BRISTOL ROVERS: James Belshaw, Lewis Gibson, James Connolly, Bobby Thomas, Lewis Gordon, Scott Sinclair, Antony Evans, Sam Finley (C), Jordan Rossiter, Aaron Collins, Josh Coburn.

Substitutes: Anssi Jaakkola, Alfie Kilgour, James Gibbons, Harvey Saunders, John Marquis, Trevor Clarke, Luke McCormick.

PETERBOROUGH UNITED: Lucas Bergstrom, Dan Butler, Ronnie Edwards, Frankie Kent, Jeando Fuchs, Ephron Mason-Clark, Kwame Poku, Nathan Thompson (C), Jack Marriot, Harrison Burrows, Hector Kypriano.

Substitutes: Blackmore, Watts, Knight, Clarke-Harris, Jones, Thompson, Randall.

Just saying.

Just got back..

I thought an entertaining game yesterday, we defended high up, nullified most of their attack opportunities and took one of our many chances to win a good game and give everyone something to chat about with a smile around the Sunday roast table.

Our mid was awesome.
Beautiful move for the goal.
I thought Evans calibration with his crossing and passing (especially from dead ball) mostly left a lot to be desired, he certainly hasn't found his wizardry from last season, but more than made up with his physical presence, tackling - sometimes more horizontal than vertical! - and support to make the triangles to get angles for crosses.

Our front running was excellent in second half, low tempo in first, but this appears to be where we are with our game management atm.... Coburn is unplayable. They just couldn't handle his forward running, holding ball up and aerial flick on threat without fouling him - for a change a foul or two was awarded to him - even though I thought sending off was harsh at the time.

Aaron does what Aaron does....defences must be scared of his running at them, and what a wonder to see.

Rossiter and Finley, the latter threaded through balls are a delight, but both blend and their engine pumps a potent front line of 4 or 5 sometimes - watch the goal replay and count how many of our players in their box as ball hits net.

Loving SS atm.... he's really paying back the fans. Even if he didn't score, if you just keep your eye on his play, his control which gives him more time, his trickery, his awareness of where to be and when to time his runs, he's awesome and can see he's been coached at the highest level.

But, for me, I like defences.... and apart from Thommo who managed to do something quite extraordinary in first half death, heading ball out in front of an open goal, him Connolly and Gibson kept Marriott quiet.... someone next to me didn't even realise he was playing until he was subbed! Gibson....my unsung hero m o m had puko in his pocket. So much so, that on our East side when the ball was played up, Gibson checked him , checked him again and blocked this fast no11 and constantly got a boot in to break up his play - he was subbed at half time - tactical - so Gibson won that battle, methinks.. And coulda shoulda scored with double chance ending in his blaze over the bar in 6 yard area!?

One mention to Gordon, whom I like, but we now know he can't head. I'm thinking he a bit of a weak link. I really think there's something there, but maybe confidence is holding him back....too many times he was played in flank positions where you were willing him on but it became predictable to cut inside, slow up or pass back....his tempo grew as game went on, and I thought he presented a good performance as he ably supports the front running players and remarkably finds space. He's not frightened of the ball, I just wish he would try to go past his opponent some time. I know he's not an out and out winger,. Defensively I'm left a little baffled although he def needs more support.

Peterborough probably hampered by Wednesday/Saturday lethargy put in a below par performance, we didn't see the best of them, still looked dangerous at times but I think our more fresher, revitalised energetic performance deservedly beat them man for man and formation for formation....well done JAB for getting this one right against credible promotion candidates.... and did anyone notice, no subs in real game time?

Great forecast o2 - more like that please...

Back earlier than usual!

Great write up, thanks

Thanks 02. In the absence of Stevek192 (hope he's OK, is he posting at the 'other place'?) your write ups keep me just about connected with the Club. 
Just.
 

Thanks for the update KP. If you're reading this stevek192 - wishing you all the very best. Your reports always the reflected the games that I saw. You just wrote them up better than I ever could...