Rovers Fight Back In A Feisty Affair

Bristol Rovers came from two goals behind to claim a point against nine-man Charlton at the Memorial Stadium.

Paul Benson gave the visitors a half time lead and that was doubled within two minutes of the restart by Kyel Reid who then went on to see red. Jose Semedo was also handed a red card and goals from Wayne Brown and Gavin Williams salvaged a point for the Gas.

There was one change to the Rovers starting line up, Will Hoskins returning from his ankle injury and taking the place of Harry Pell.

The surprise ommission from the Charlton line up was striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, scorer of three goals for Plymouth against Rovers already this season.

It was Rovers who started the game stronger, winning an early corner that drifted over everyone before Hoskins turned and hit a volley in one movement, forcing Addicks custodian John Sullivan to tip the ball over the bar and out for another setpiece.

That lively start from Rovers disipated on eight minutes though, as Nathan Eccleston broke down the left and crossed the ball to the back post where a completely unmarked Paul Benson threw himself at the ball, connecting with his head from close range and putting Charlton into the lead.

The joy of the Gashead faithful was shortlived after Jeff Hughes spectacularly volleyed in a Gavin Williams cross, his effort being ruled out for offside by the linesman.

After creating the first Eccleston looked to grab a goal of his own, the striker cutting inside and slamming a shot goalwards that stung the hands of Conrad Logan as he parried the ball away.

Kyel Reid sent a volley wide of the mark and soon after Rovers were forced into their first enforced change of the afternoon as Hughes had to leave the field with a wrist injury, Stuart Campbell revealing afterwards that the midfielder had fractured his wrist in three places.

Lines had two free kicks in quick succession though neither caused Sullivan any problems. The first from a speculative distance of around 45 yards stayed low and rebounded off the wall while the second flew harmlessly wide.

Benson could have doubled his sides advantage as he spun and shot over but at half time Charlton had been the better side on the ball and deserved their half time lead and things soon got worse for the home side.

The first of a double blow came with the site of David McCracken walking out of the tunnel, Danny Coles having to be substituted off due to an achilles injury and very soon things got worse as the pacy Reid was allowed to run at the Rovers defence before unleashing a swerving piledriver over Conrad Logan's head and into the back of the net and at 2-0 down Rovers looked dead and buried but they were given a lifeline, though it did come at a price.

James Tunnicliffe went to clear a ball upfield and as his leg straightened in the air goalscorer Reid came in with a late, studs up lunge on the centre back who immediately went down in a heap and was taken off on a stretcher before being taken for an x-ray, later revealing via Twitter that his foot was not broken although it will be monitored over 72 hours.

Wayne Brown came on in his place, leaving the Gas with three at the back but the remaining defenders afternoons were to become slightly easier after the hour mark as Jose Semedo elbowed Rovers caretaker boss Stuart Campbell, collecting his second yellow card of the game in the process and leaving his side with just nine men on the field and this was soon capitalised on as the home side pulled a goal back.

Will Hoskins charged down the left hand side, checked back his run and laid the ball off to Chris Lines. His initial shot was blocked by Jonothan Fortune but Wayne Brown made no mistake, coming in at full throttle from the edge of the area and blasting the ball into the open goal.

Brown looked for his second but found Sullivan in the way while Eccleston could have put the game to bed, only to see his weak effort held comfortably by Logan.

Rovers got their reward, though, as Gavin Williams took the ball down on the edge of the area, not without a hint of handball, and struck home to send the home fans into raptures and turn what had looked like a defeat into a point, but it could have been so much more.

Stuart Campbell hit an effort from just outside the box that was blocked but the ball squirmed through to Will Hoskins only for the usually reliable striker to inexplicably hit the ball into the ground with a thud from no more than eight yards out and watch his effort fly up and over the bar.

There was to be no other goals, however, and the home side could come away thankful that they had picked up a point, though had Charlton not dug themselves into a hole with the two red cards it could ended so much worse for the Gas.

After the game Stuart Campbell talked about how well his side coped with the situation that stood before them, saying:

"I think it is a point gained given the fact we were 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go.

"Fair enough we were playing against nine men, but it was pretty much attack against defence, it was hard for us to break them down, but credit to the lads we moved the ball around really well.

"We got two goals, and were unfortunate not to get another couple.

"We have never done well against 10 men, let alone nine, but the pleasing thing for me was that we didn't panic. We kept moving the ball around well and we didn't panic, which you have to do."

His opposite manager didn't take too kindly to Campbell's reaction to the Semedo sending off, saying 'it's not right':

"Stuart Campbell has got a tough job, he is trying to keep his team up. If he wants to wink at his staff and clap to his fans when he knows he's got a player sent off; if he feels that's right than fair enough.

"In the spirit of the game if you feel you are going to do that to someone as an opposing player, if you do that - and it was seen by our bench - it's not right."

Campbell hit back at this when he said:

"I was clapping to the crowd to gee them up as the fact they were down to nine men; it was nothing more than that.

"I'm disappointed he said that but everyone is entitled to their opinions. I'll say go and look at it on the video and draw your own conclusion."

There were clearly axes to grind after the final whistle as Charlton substitute Frank Nouble squared up to Rovers keeper Conrad Logan before being pulled away by team mates.