League Two
Bristol RoversBristol Rovers1StevenageStevenage2

Bristol Rovers 1-2 Stevenage

Chris Whelpdale goal
Chris Whelpdale's 60th-minute winner gave Stevenage victory at Bristol Rovers

Stevenage won away for the first time in League Two this season as they claimed victory at Bristol Rovers.

Steven Schumacher gave Boro an early lead by capitalising on Stuart Sinclair's poor clearance.

Rovers levelled when on-loan debutant Paris Cowan-Hall found Matt Taylor, who slotted home from close range.

But after earlier testing Lee Nicholls in the home goal, Chris Whelpdale fired home from 20 yards for Boro's first league win since 17 October.

Teddy Sheringham's side remain 20th in League Two, seven points above the relegation zone, while Bristol Rovers drop to 13th.

Stevenage manager Teddy Sheringham told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It's been a long time coming but it's very pleasing now that it's here.

"We had to ride our luck a little bit at the end of the first half and gather our composure and I felt we did well in the second half.

"We weren't really hanging on but the pressure was building as you'd expect."

On the crowd: "They're making a big effort to come and support us and we appreciate it."

Line-ups

Bristol Rovers

Formation 4-4-2

  • 31Nicholls
  • 15J ClarkeSubstituted forLeadbitterat 78'minutes
  • 4Lockyer
  • 6Parkes
  • 3Brown
  • 29Cowan-HallSubstituted forMontañoat 66'minutes
  • 14Lines
  • 24Sinclair
  • 23Bodin
  • 10Taylor
  • 17EasterSubstituted forHarrisonat 66'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Mildenhall
  • 2Leadbitter
  • 5McChrystal
  • 7Mansell
  • 8O Clarke
  • 9Harrison
  • 21Montaño

Stevenage

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 16Day
  • 25Henry
  • 5FranksBooked at 90mins
  • 19Wells
  • 30Ogilvie
  • 8SchumacherSubstituted forGormanat 90+7'minutes
  • 15Tonge
  • 7WhelpdaleSubstituted forGnanduilletat 90'minutes
  • 11Pett
  • 33KennedySubstituted forLeeat 72'minutesBooked at 80mins
  • 10Matt

Substitutes

  • 4McCombe
  • 6Hughes
  • 13Voss
  • 22Lee
  • 31Gnanduillet
  • 32Conlon
  • 34Gorman
Referee:
Graham Salisbury
Attendance:
5,819

Match Stats

Home TeamBristol RoversAway TeamStevenage
Possession
Home58%
Away42%
Shots
Home16
Away12
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home5
Away4
Fouls
Home10
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Bristol Rovers 1, Stevenage 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Bristol Rovers 1, Stevenage 2.

  3. Substitution

    Substitution, Stevenage. Dale Gorman replaces Steven Schumacher because of an injury.

  4. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  5. Post update

    Delay in match Steven Schumacher (Stevenage) because of an injury.

  6. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  7. Post update

    Delay in match Steven Schumacher (Stevenage) because of an injury.

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.

  9. Post update

    Corner, Bristol Rovers. Conceded by Connor Ogilvie.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Armand Gnanduillet (Stevenage) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left.

  11. Booking

    Fraser Franks (Stevenage) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  12. Post update

    Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Fraser Franks (Stevenage).

  14. Post update

    Corner, Stevenage. Conceded by Chris Lines.

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Lee Brown (Bristol Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Stevenage. Armand Gnanduillet replaces Chris Whelpdale.

  17. Post update

    Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Chris Whelpdale (Stevenage).

  19. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Cristian Montaño (Bristol Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

  20. Post update

    Billy Bodin (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.