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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
David Byrom

Bristol Rovers secure League One safety thanks to goalless draw at Fleetwood Town

Bristol Rovers secured their safety with a goalless draw away at Fleetwood Town.

Both teams hit the woodwork in the second half in what was otherwise a scrappy affair, but the point, combined with results elsewhere, was enough to see the Gas safe with a game to spare.

Rovers made two changes from the side that lost to Rochdale, with Joe Partington and Abu Ogogo returning in a 4-5-1 formation.

The first half was a drab affair that saw Rovers playing into the wind, but they were caused very little problems by Fleetwood.

Jack Bonham was forced into an early double save as he palmed away Ashley Hunter's near-post shot before keeping out Ched Evans' follow-up, but that was as close as the hosts came to taking the lead.

At the other end, a flowing Rovers move saw them work the ball from one wing to the other where Liam Sercombe had enough space to fire off a shot that home keeper Alex Cairns turned round the post.

Rovers spurned a brilliant chance to take the lead on 20 minutes when James Clarke's cross was blazed over from 12 yards by Ed Upson.

Evans then headed wide when unmarked on the half-hour mark, but by this point the game had a low-key end-of-season feel to it.

With the wind blowing a gale, neither side were able to string too many passes together without giving the ball away, and it made for a poor spectacle with a lack of excitement.

On the stroke of half-time a speculative Upson effort from halfway dropped just wide of goal, meaning the two teams went in goalless.

The second half was a little more open but chances were still at a premium, with neither side abe to fashion many shooting opportunities.

On 70 minutes, Ross Wallace volleyed just over from 20 yards with Bonham beaten.

The Rovers keeper was called into action moments later when substitute Paddy Madden broke down the right wing and fired in a low shot that Bonham did superbly to tip onto the post.

Rovers almost took the lead in the 75th minute when, out of nowhere, Ollie Clarke unleashed a rocket of a shot from 25 yards that crashed back into play off the post.

Bonham then saved twice in quick succession from Evans as Fleetwood went looking for the win, but the Gas kept the clean sheet for the point that secures their League One status for another season.

Bristol Rovers: Bonham; Partington,  Lockyer, Craig, J Clarke; Sercombe, O Clarke, Upson, Ogogo, Holmes-Dennis (Jakubiak, 90); Clarke-Harris. Subs (not used): Smith, Nichols, Reilly, Sinclair, Kilgour, Rodman.

Fleetwood Town: Cairns, Coyle, Clarke (Sowerby, 80), Eastham, Burns, Evans, Hunter, Wallace, Nadesan (Madden, 67), Husband, Biggins. Subs (not used): Jones, Madden, Sowerby, Baggley, Hill, Rydel, Mooney.

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