Rovers 0-3 Morecambe
Bristol Rovers experienced a nightmare afternoon at the Memorial Stadium losing 3-0 to Morecambe.
All three goals came in a ten minute spell in the second half and were the result of stupid errors in the Rovers’ defence.
After a sluggish start from both sides Rovers began to get their noses in front as the first half drew to a close, but the home side capitulated after the break and failed to take anything from the game.
Gary McDonald opened the scoring for the visitors, before defender Nick Fenton made it 2-0 five minutes later and Kevin Ellison rounded for the scoring for the Shrimps.
Mark McGhee named an unchanged side from the one that started against Wycombe last weekend, and everyone was hoping that the side would pick up where they left off after the game at Adam’s Park was abandoned.
Rovers scored three great goals during that game, but they could not rediscover that form in front of goal today.
It was a very quiet opening period, with neither side really testing either goalkeeper in the opening exchanges.
Rovers first half chance came on 12 minutes; Lee Brown’s free kick was easily caught by keeper Barry Roche after Matt Harrold was fouled just outside the box.
Then Wayne Brown had a shot from just outside the box, which went wide of the left hand post.
At the other end Andrew Wright’s effort hit the post, before David Clarkson’s effort curled just past the right hand post.
As the half wore on Rovers started to put a bit of pressure on the visitors, with Eliot Richards having two chances in a similar position 25 yards out. The first fizzed past the post, and the second was easily gathered by Roche.
Everyone was hoping that Rovers would come back after the break and build on the momentum they had started to create, but Morecambe had other ideas.
Gary McDonald started things off for the away side, skipping past as two Rovers defenders stood off, and slotting the ball into the back of the net from inside the box.
Just five minutes later Rovers were stunned again when Tom Parkes mistake allowed Nick Fenton to make it 2-0.
And then Rovers really were left with a mountain to climb as a further five minutes later Kevin Ellison again exposed the Rovers defence and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
The three goals really knocked the stuffing out of Rovers, and they struggled to get themselves back into the game.
Mark McGhee made two changes, bringing off Wayne and Lee Brown, to replace them with Matt Lund and Fabian Broghammer.
Broghammer, Virgo and Parkes all had half chances for Rovers, before Sam Walker was called into action to make a save from Danny Carlton.
Rovers made their final change, bringing Joe Anyinsah on for Eliot Richards.
Morecambe had a chance to make it 4-0 in the dying minutes, but their free kick just outside the box taken by Lewis Alessandra was fired straight into the wall.
Bristol Rovers: Sam Walker, Michael Smith, Adam Virgo, Tom Parkes, Jim Paterson, Wayne Brown (Matt Lund), Matt Gill Lee Brown (Fabian Broghammer), Eliot Richards (Joe Anyinsah), Matt Harrold, David Clarkson
Substitutes: Conor Gough, Cian Bolger, Seanan Clucas Oliver Norburn
Morecambe: Barry Roche, Nick Fenton, Robbie Trelfall, Will Haning, Andrew Wright, Andy Parrish, Jordan Burrow (Richard Brodie), Chris McCready, Gary MacDonald, Lewis Alessandra, Kevin Ellison (Danny Carlton (Stewart Drummond))
Substitutes: Andreas Arestidou, Izak Reid, Joe Mwasile, Jack Redshaw,
Referee: Lee Collins