Bristol Rovers v Hartlepool United LIVE!: Team news and updates as Graeme Lee's side head to the Memorial Stadium
Aaron Collins fired in from close range as Pools failed to clear their lines from a cross into the area from the left.
And with Pools chasing an equaliser in the closing stages they were reduced to 10 men as Jamie Sterry was given his marching orders for a tangle with Anthony Evans.
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Hide AdSterry was the last man with goalkeeper Ben Killip out of his area and left referee Carl Brook little option but to show the defender a red card.
And from the resulting freekick, Evans fired a delightful effort in off the crossbar giving Killip little chance.
Pools were much the better team for large parts of the game and will be wondering how James Belshaw was able to deny Mark Cullen in the second half and it was a chance they would rue in the closing stages.
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Bristol Rovers 2-0 Hartlepool United RECAP: Rovers grab late win as Jamie Sterry sees red
Key Events
- Hartlepool United XI: Killip, Sterry, Byrne, Liddle, Odusina, Ferguson, Featherstone, Crawford, Holohan, Molyneux, Carver
- Subs: Boyes, Ogle, Hull, Shelton, Daly, Grey, Cullen
- Marcus Carver makes his Hartlepool United debut
- Bristol Rovers XI: Belshaw, Grant, Kilgour, Collins, Nicholson, Coutts ©, Taylor, Anderson, Evans, Harries, Loft
- Subs: Jaakkola, Connolly, Anderson, Whelan, Pitman, Thomas, Clarke
FULL TIME
All over from the Memorial Stadium and Bristol Rovers seal a late win over Pools. A really tough one for Graeme Lee’s side to take who looked the more likely to win the game for large parts of the game. But a late strike from Collins followed by a stunning freekick from Evans after Sterry had been sent off
90 - RED CARD
Jamie Sterry is sent off for a tangle with Evans. He was the last man and is given a straight red card
87 - GOAL
It’s a cruel, cruel blow for Pools as Collins hammers home from six yards as they fail to clear their lines
The offside flag comes to Rovers’ rescue as Byrne’s header comes to Cullen with the striker flagged offside