[BFC SITE] Reds lose out in Bristol

Barnsley's four-game winning streak came to a head against Bristol Rovers on Saturday afternoon, losing out 3-1 at the Memorial Stadium in Sky Bet League One.

The Reds started brightly in Bristol, Davis Keillor-Dunn and Adam Phillips seeing efforts on goal early on denied by Josh Griffiths and the side-netting respectively. Max Watters found himself through on goal on fifteen minutes via a ball over the top of the Rovers defence, but the the home 'keeper stood tall to deny a deadlock breaker.

Just a minute later, the Reds had the ball in the back of the net through the skipper, Luca Connell but his volley was chalked off by Martin Woods as the assistant adjudged Watters to be impairing the view of Griffiths in goal from an offside position.

Ben Killip was called into action for the first time in the afternoon, forced to produce an acrobatic save from Isaac Hutchinson as he hit one with venom from range. Griffiths produced two big saves of his own midway through the first half, firstly a fingertip save from Keillor-Dunn, then from Watters who almost finished a wonderful, flowing team move.

However, before the break, the hosts took the lead. Gatlin O'Donkor headed home from close range after a delivery from the right-hand side to send Rovers into the break with the advantage.

Half-time: Bristol Rovers 1-0 Reds

At the break, Darrell Clarke turned to the bench as Keillor-Dunn had picked up a knock during the first half, Stephen Humphrys entering the fray.

The Reds came out of the blocks at pace, Humphrys almost making an instant impact with a header at the back post, but it bounced narrowly wide of the mark. Rovers doubled their lead in the 52nd minute courtesy of Isaac Hutchinson. The ball was squared to the striker in the area, rolling home in front of the Gas faithful to double their lead.

The Reds responded with a double substitution, Neil Farrugia being introduced for his Barnsley debut in replacement of Georgie Gent, and Luca Connell made way for Kelechi Nwakali.

Farrugia got amongst the action quickly, crossing low from the left for Phillips whose effort made his way to Watters, flicking over from close range. The Reds' momentum paid in the 67th minute, after Corey O'Keeffe delivered from a free-kick for Earl who headed home inside the area.

Griffiths was called into action in the 73rd minute once again, a trailing leg denying Humphrys' effort from the left at range. In the search for an equaliser, the Reds made another double substitution, Corey O'Keeffe and Max Watters making way for Sam Cosgrove and Kyran Lofthouse on 80 minutes.

Throwing numerous bodies forward in the dying minutes of the game, the Gas hit the Reds on the break resulting in a third for the hosts. Ruel Sotiriou was on hand to net late on and end Barnsley's winning streak in Sky Bet League One.

Full-time: Bristol Rovers 3-1 Reds

Reds: Killip (GK), Russell, Roberts, de Gevigney, O'Keeffe (Lofthouse 80'), Phillips, Gent (Farrugia 55'), Earl, Watters (Cosgrove 80'), Keillor-Dunn (Humphrys 45'), Connell (Nwakali 55')

Unused subs: Pines, McCarthy.

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I like how the official report strongly implies we were hit on the break when it was just cack defending yet again.