Rochdale 3-4 Bristol Rovers – ` Sport

Hat-trick hero Aaron Collins grabbed a late winner as promotion-chasing Bristol Rovers twice erased a two-goal deficit, beating Rochdale 4-3 and raising their hopes of promotion from the Second Division.

Dale went into the break with a two-goal lead after Luke Charman scored in the ninth minute and added a second eight minutes later.

Rovers improved after the break and Sam Finley brought them back into play with a 53rd minute effort.

Dale restored his two-goal lead after an hour when Matt Done found Corey O’Keeffe to beat James Belshaw in the Rovers goal on the second try.

However, Rovers hit back in the 66th minute when Antony Evans slid a smart delivery across the face of the goal for Collins to convert.

Joey Barton’s visitors equalized in the 89th minute, Harry Anderson preparing Collins for his second game of the afternoon.

And the three points were secured in dramatic fashion in the fifth minute of added time when Elliott Anderson’s header was turned by Collins.

The visitors’ Paul Coutts was sent off in the eighth minute of added time after a scuffle in his own penalty area, but Joey Barton’s side waited for a win that would keep hopes of automatic promotion alive and secure a place at least that playoffs

Match report by PA Media.

lineups

Rochdale

formation 3-4-3

21Eastwood

13keohane6O’Connell5Taylor

2O’Keeffe24Brierley7Dooley26Clear

16Done11Grant9Charming

• 21Eastwood
• 13keohaneBooked at 58 minutes
• 6O’Connell
• 5TaylorBooked at 69 minutes
• 2O’KeeffeBooked at 83 minutes
• 24Brierley
• 7Dooley
• 26ClearReplaced byWhiteat the 74′protocol
• 16DoneReplaced bycash manat the 74′protocol
• 11Grant
• 9Charming85 minutes bookedReplaced byAndrewat the 90+3′protocol

substitute

• 3White
• 10newbie
• 18I’m leaving
• 19Andrew
• 20cash man
• 30Kelly
• 34Scanlon

Bristol Rovers

formation 4-1-4-1

1Belshaw

30Hoole17Taylor2connolly4Grant

15couts

19Anderson21Evans6Finley12Anderson

10Collins

• 1Belshaw
• 30HooleReplaced byNicholsonat the 78′protocol
• 17TaylorReplaced byatticat the 74′protocol
• 2connolly
• 4GrantReplaced byThomasat the 35′protocol
• 15couts90 minutes booked
• 19AndersonBooked at 39 minutes
• 21Evans
• 6Finley
• 12Anderson
• 10Collins

substitute

• 7Thomas
• 11Nicholson
• 16anderton
• 26whelan
• 32Jaakola
• 33Rodman
• 38attic

Referee: Ross Joyce

Number of visitors: 4,628

live text

1. Game ends, Rochdale 3, Bristol Rovers 4.

2. End of the second half, Rochdale 3, Bristol Rovers 4.

3. Corner, Rochdale. Cashed in by James Belshaw.

4. Paul Coutts (Bristol Rovers) is shown a red card for violent conduct.

5. Goal! 3. Rochdale, 4. Bristol Rovers. Elliot Anderson (Bristol Rovers) header from the center of the box, bottom left.

6. attempt saved. Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Ryan Loft.

7. attempt failed. Sam Nicholson (Bristol Rovers) header from the left side of the box is a bit too high. Assisted by Sam Finley.

8. Sam Finley (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

9. Foul by Josh Andrews (Rochdale).

10. Sam Finley (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

11. Foul by Conor Grant (Rochdale).

12. Substitution, Rochdale. Josh Andrews replaces Luke Charman due to injury.

13. attempt failed. Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers) header from the center of the box is too high. Assisted by Harry Anderson with a cross.

14. attempt failed. Luke Charman (Rochdale) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Danny Cashman.

15. Goal! 3. Rochdale, 3. Bristol Rovers. Aaron Collins (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left. Assisted by Harry Anderson.

16. Foul by Ryan Loft (Bristol Rovers).

17. Eoghan O’Connell (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

18. Luke Charman (Rochdale) is yellow carded.

19. Corey O’Keeffe (Rochdale) is shown a yellow card.

20. James Connolly (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.