Darren Ferguson gets underway at Rovers with three valuable points away at Shrewsbury.
Shrewsbury - 1 (Knight-Percival 27’)
Rovers - 2 (Coppinger 14’ , Anderson 87')
Tuesday 20th October
Greenhous Meadow
SkyBet League One
Darren Ferguson took charge of his first game as Rovers manager since being appointed last week and made a number of changes to the side.
Cameron Stewart, Nathan Tyson and Mitchell Lund made their return to the starting eleven as Rovers looked for their first away win of the season.
Rovers had a good start to the game and enjoyed a lot of possession down the left hand side, Cedric Evina seeing a lot of the ball.
Keshi Anderson looked a threat when on the ball and created the first chance for Rovers when he beat two defenders before his shot was blocked in the area.
Anderson caused problems again when his one-two with Richard Chaplow forced the defender to bring him down before breaking through on goal. The resulting free kick was taken by Stewart but smartly saved by Jayson Leutwiler in the Shrewsbury net.
From the resulting corner, the visitors took the lead. Stewart’s corner fell to James Coppinger on the edge of the box who beat his defender before slotting the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot. Rovers were ahead.
The home side responded well however and Thorsten Stuckmann pulled off a superb triple save to deny them the equaliser.
Jean-Louis Akpa-Akpro’s initial shot was saved by the Rovers keeper, before he kept Larnell Cole’s rebound out from three yards. He then got a vital touch on Cole’s second shot before it rolled onto the post.
Minutes later the home side threatened again as Kaikai got on the end of a long ball in the box, one on one with Stuckmann he dragged his shot inches past the post.
Shrewsbury did get their equaliser just before the half hour mark. A corner whipped in by Liam Lawrence was met by Knight-Percival whose powerful header beat Stuckmann.
Nathan Tyson had the chance to put Rovers ahead just before half time. Anderson put the striker through and using his pace to beat the defence he got his shot away, but Leutwiler was quick off his line to make the save.
HALF TIME: Shrewsbury 1-1 Rovers
Rovers started the second half as they started the first and enjoyed the majority of possession however neither side treated the opposition goalkeepers for some time.
Kaikai drilled a long range effort at goal but watched it go wide of the post before the visitors won a number of free kicks, however nothing came of them.
Rovers were appealing for a penalty kick as Richie Wellens played a delightful ball through the middle for Anderson to get on the end of. As the young striker looked to take it round Leutwiler he was brought down but the referee waved play on much to the disbelief of the Rovers fans.
Darren Ferguson’s side pressured the home defence again, this time a corner fell to Chaplow in the box, his first shot was blocked before Shrewsbury survived a goalmouth scramble.
Anderson was appealing for another penalty as he got on the end of another Wellens ball. Looking to turn and shoot he appeared to be dragged down but again the referee said no.
Shrewsbury came back into the game with twenty minutes to play. Kaikai should have put them ahead with a free header at the near post but it was way over the bar.
Cameron Stewart rattled the top of the net with a dipping free kick from 20 yards after Anderson was hacked down again. Possession was in Rovers favour but they just couldn't find a way through the Shrews defence.
There were nervy moments in the Rovers defence as a Lawrence corner caused problems for Stuckmann. The shot at goal came and was blocked, before the rebound was cleared off the line.
There was late, late drama at Greenhous meadow as Rovers took the lead on 87 minutes. Cameron Stewart made a great run in from the right before playing in an unmarked Anderson who smashed the ball home from six yards.
The home side thought they'd got the equaliser as Matt Tootle headed past Stuckmann at the near post. The defender was celebrating his equaliser when he realised the assistant referee had flagged for offside. Rovers were able to hold on and Darren Ferguson got his Rovers career underway with three points.
Team Lineups-
Shrewsbury: Leutwiler, Tootle, Black (Clark 63’), Lawrence (c), Kaikai, Brown, Ogogo, Knight-Percival, Akpa Akpro (Barnett 72’),Cole, Smith
Unused Subs: Rowley, Sadler, Collins, Ellis, McAlinden
Cautions: Black 13'
Rovers: Stuckmann, Lund, MacKenzie (McCullough 72’), Butler, Evina, Coppinger (c), Chaplow (Middleton 63’), Wellens, Stewart, Anderson, Tyson (Williams 90')
Unused Subs: Marosi, Forrester, N’Guessan, Taylor-Sinclair
Cautions: Lund 32'
Attendance: 4,735 (250)