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Match Reports

Match Report | Bristol Rovers 0-0 Shrewsbury

1 April 2024

Match Reports

Match Report | Bristol Rovers 0-0 Shrewsbury

1 April 2024

Shrewsbury picked up a solid point on the road after playing out a 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers.

In a match that could have seen either side snatch victory, Aiden O'Brien cannoned the crossbar with a brilliant half-volley for Town.

At the other end, substitute Jevani Brown hit the post for Rovers.

Overall, though, a draw was a fair result with Salop heading back to Shropshire with a well-earned point.

Team news:

Boss Paul Hurst opted to make two changes from the team that secured a 1-1 draw with Oxford on Good Friday.

Having missed that game through illness, Tom Bayliss came back into the side at the Memorial Stadium with Tunmise Sobowale also getting the nod ahead of Tom Bloxham.

In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Carl Winchester and Taylor Perry were the midfield two with Sobowale on the right flank and O'Brien on the left. Dan Udoh continued as the central striker with Bayliss in the 10 role.

There was no place in the matchday squad for Jack Price, who travelled to Bristol but missed out with a sore groin.

Bristol Rovers also lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system with Chris Martin the central striker. Brandon Aguilera sat just behind with Scott Sinclair and Harvey Vale out wide.

Report:

In what was a scrappy opening 20 minutes, both teams struggled to find any real rhythm.

The hosts, though, did have a glorious chance to open the scoring early on when Aguilera won the ball high before slipping in Martin.

From the corner of the six-yard box, he then fired narrowly wide when he should have done better.

In what continued to be a half lacking in clear-cut chances, another opportunity did fall for Martin just past the 30-minute mark.

Again the striker was slipped in on goal wide on the right. But this time Marko Marosi raced off his line to keep out his effort with a smart block.

Town had their first big chance just moments after the interval when O'Brien rattled the crossbar with a brilliant volley from just inside the box.

Hurst's men then threatened again on the hour mark when Udoh spun well in the box before seeing a goal-bound strike blocked by a defender.

The second half was proving a lot more open than the first.

And Hurst opted to make a triple change with 15 minutes to go - with Roland Idowu, Jack Hinchy and Ryan Bowman replacing Bayliss, Perry and O'Brien.

In the 85th minute, Rovers had two glorious chances to win it.

The first saw a low cross find Jevani Brown in the box who smashed the ball against the post.

In the same phase of play, the ball then broke for fellow sub Luke Thomas who fired inches wide.

Town then went up the other end with Idowu finding Bowman who saw a low effort pushed away by Jed Ward.

And that proved to be the last meaningful chance of the half - with Town heading back to Shropshire with a solid point.

Teams:

Bristol Rovers: Ward, Gordon, Wilson, Finley, Sinclair (Brown 83), Aguilera (Ward 59), Taylor, Martin (Marquis 83), Vale (Thomas 67), Evans, Hoole.

Subs not used: Cox, Connolly, McCormick.

Shrewsbury: Marosi, Feeney, Dunkley, Flanagan, Benning, Winchester, Perry (Bowman 76), Bayliss (Hinchy 76), Sobowalem (Bloxham 61), O'Brien (Idowu 76), Udoh.

Subs not used: Burgoyne, Sraha, Bennett.

Referee: Elliot Bell. 

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