Zebroski Halts Rovers Slide

When the cheers that greeted the final whistle of Bristol Rovers 1-0 win over Shrewsbury subsided the fans within the Memorial Stadium drew a collective sigh of relief.

Chris Zebroski's first half goal successfully ended a run of four League 2 games without a victory that had blighted the early season optimism of supporters, though it wasn't all plain sailing for Paul Buckle's side. If it weren't for the Shrews wastefulness in the final third the result could easily have been different, though as it was the Gas were the team who created the best chances on the night.

Chris Zebroski's inclusion in the started line up, in place of the veteran Scott McGleish, was the only change from Saturday's team that drew up at Bradford, the former Torquay forward proving, quite typically, to be a thorn in the opposition's side. Now getting a chance to play through the centre Zebroski appears more capable of producing on a regular basis than when placed out wide, his powerful running pressurising the Shrewsbury back four.

One such burst at the heart of the Salops defence drew a foul from central defender Ian Sharps two yards from the edge of the penalty area. Referee Graham Scott ignored home catcalls for a red card, instead awarding a yellow, deeming there to be a covering defender. It was one of a set of bemusing decisions from the Oxfordshire official.

Zebroski's goal, a volley from the edge of the box, came as a result of Matt Harrold's knock-down and was a well taken strike, doubling the 24 year old's tally for the season. It came very much against the run of play as Shrewsbury ran the majority of the game.

The visitors ended the match with 62% of the possession, pushing hard down the wings via Lionel Ainsworth and ex-Rover Mark Wright. Ainsworth's pace had Rovers on the back foot from the off, though first Lee Brown and then Michael Smith dealt with the threat commendably. Wright proved to have a frustrating night, his twists and turns were dangerous, his final balls less so, though a second half drive that whistled inches past the frame of the goal had Scott Bevan flying despairingly through the air.

The right hand flank saw Ainsworth backed up by monstrous full back Jermaine Grandison who overlapped at will as Shrewsbury looked to force the issue from the wide positions. Grandison, and his left sided cohort Joe Jacobson, were able to make an impression on the game with little care for their defensive duties as neither of the Rovers flankmen possessed great pace, indeed, both were arguably playing out of position, Wayne Brown a central midfielder by trade, Eliot Richards a striker.

And yet for all their statistical dominance Rovers still created the better of the chances, Cian Bolger unlucky not to score from a corner as Shrews stopper Ben Smith made a fine save on the line from point blank range.

The dying seconds saw Ainsworth almost snatch a leveller, his twenty five yard drive pushed around the post by the palms of Bevan. The resulting corner saw Smith charge towards the Rovers area, the short corner taken his way, only for the rush 'keeper to slip at the crucial moment. Eliot Richards had the chance to give the travelling support a sense of Deja Vu, though he was unable to put the ball into the empty net as Sammy Igoe had for Rovers at Wembley five years ago.

Paul Buckle and his squad would have taken a win in this fixture by hook or by crook, but if they want to continue to push past their current position of 12th in League 2 their game will need to pick up. Rovers had been kicked back to square one, now they must rise again.

Rovers Search For Form Against Shrews

Matt Harrold in a previous life, wearing Shrewsbury Town Colours

When your luck is out the last thing you need is a questionable refereeing decision. That's exactly what Bristol Rovers were handed at the weekend.

With literally seconds of stoppage time to go Michael Flynn spoiled the Pirates' northern jaunt by slotting away his second penalty of the game to level the scores at 2-2. The first spot kick was a stonewaller, there could be no protestations from the gas contingent. It was the second award from the officials that had players in uproar. Jamie Devitt broke into the box only to fall under minimal contact from Rovers full back Lee Brown, the linesman flagging, referee Miller pointing to the spot.

Had the decision not gone Bradford's way it would have seen a run of three league games without a win halted, it wasn't to be. Instead Rovers go into Tuesday's game with high-flying Shrewsbury looking for a change in fortune, that may be hard to come by against one of the divisions form teams. Having handed Plymouth what remains their only point of the season on the opening day the Shrews kicked off the season in tortoise-slow fashion, there was to be one further point from their next two games. What has transpired since has seen the club propel upwards and into the automatic promotion spots.

Four straight wins, not to mention a shock Carling Cup victory over Swansea, have boosted the mood at the Greenhous Meadow, their last game finishing in a 3-1 triumph over local rivals Hereford. Marvin Morgan was at the double in that match, outmuscling his defender for the first and slotting coolly home to put the game beyond the Bulls late on.

Those strikes came either side of a goal from Mark Wright, a former Rovers player himself, who left the the club after a largely unfruitful season under Paul Trollope. His attitude made him a bete noir among the Bristolian faithful though since dropping down to the fourth tier Shrews his form has been stunning. The former MK Dons winger netted 14 goals last term and was a major part of Town's run to the play-offs, he already has braces of both goals and assists this season.

There could also be a possible Memorial Stadium return for left back Joe Jacobson, who started in the XI that faced Hereford. Tuesday will also give Matt Harrold an opportunity to give Shrewsbury, the club that sold him to Rovers in the summer, just what they are missing out on.

Rovers hold the lead in the overall record between the two sides, holding 27 wins to their opponents meagre 15. It will be the first time the clubs will have met since 2006/07, a season which saw them become well acquainted with each other. In the four games that season Rovers came out on top three times, drawing the other, most importantly in front of over 61,000 spectators at Wembley when they ran out 3-1 winners in the League 2 play-off final. It was their tenth unbeaten game in succession, a run from which they snatched sixth place on the final day of the season and disposed of Lincoln for the end of season showpiece.

Stewart Drummond headed the Shropshire side into a 3rd minute lead though Rovers refused to lay down quietly. Richard Walker produced a fine finish to equalise before exquisitely lobbing Chris Mackenzie for the half time lead. Shrewsbury spent the second half probing for a way back into the match and won a corner in the final minute for which Mackenzie made his way into the opposing penalty area. The corner was swung in but the danger removed, allowing Pirates midfielder Sammy Igoe to pick up the loose ball, run half the length of the field and slip the ball into the unguarded net, securing promotion and inciting delirium among the nigh on 40,000 Gasheads that had made the trip to the capital.

Team news for Tuesday sees Gary Sawyer unavailable, the full back missing out as he slowly returns to fitness following a hernia operation.

Captain Matt Gill has been feeling fatigued of late but manager Paul Buckle is hopeful that he will be available.

Shrewsbury will be without ex-Rovers defender Carl Regan who is lost his place in the side following a quadricep injury.

Striker Terry Gornell is suspended following a straight red card in the win over Hereford. While he serves a three match suspension Tom Bradshaw and James Collins will be fighting for the vacated spot.

The space on the bench could go the way of defender Connor Goldson or one of the wing pair of Steve Leslie and Jon Taylor.

Parkinson Looks Forward To 'Special Occasion'

Much of the focus on Bristol Rovers trip to Bradford City will be on new Bantams boss Phil Parkinson and his first game at Valley Parade, the Gas will be looking to slip under the radar.

The former Charlton boss made his first appearance in a Bradford dugout a week ago at Morecambe, taking his first point in the process thanks to a 93rd minute Ross Hannah goal. The fact that City needed to appoint a new manager so early in the new season was a surprise in itself as Peter Jackson, a former player at Valley Parade, tendered his resignation to the Bradford board after a below par start to the season that had seen his side lose three of their first four League 2 games. Following his departure the Bantams picked up their first win of the campaign, beating Barnet 4-2, in front of a crowd just short of the 10,000 mark.

Parkinson cut his managerial teeth at Colchester, saving the club from relegation before turning them into promotion winners two seasons later. Success in Essex lead Parkinson to Hull City, though he eventually left in December 2006 after a dreadful start that wore on over the following months had seen the Tigers drop into the relegation zone. After nearly two years as assistant manager to Alan Pardew at Charlton he was given the chance to manage once again with the Addicks, getting the job permanently after two months in caretaker charge. He was unable to save Charlton from the drop but had a tilt at the League 1 play-offs the next season, losing out to Swindon. Parkinson was relieved of his duties in January after a poor run in December.

While Bradford have started at a snails pace Rovers can claim to be only marginally better. It has been three league games since Paul Buckle's team last overcame an opponent, throw two cup defeats into the mix and you will find a side lacking in form. There was a highly commendable display against Watford in the first round of the Carling Cup, Rovers winning through on penalties, but the last time they won in ninety minutes was an August 16th game against Northampton. Despite the adverse results the squad remain in a confident and jovial mood ahead of the long journey up to Yorkshire.

It will be the first meeting between Rovers and Bradford for twelve seasons and also represents the first time the clubs will have met outside of the third tier. The history books have Saturday's visitors down with the favourable record, Rovers having won twelve of the eighteen clashes compared to the Bantams three. Five of the nine games at Valley Parade have ended with an away win.

The home side will be without defenders Simon Ramsden and Steve Williams who are both suffering with calf injuries. Two midfielders, David Syers (knee) and Lee Bullock (hip), are also set to miss out, as is striker Nialle Rodney (ankle). Forward Ross Hannah is pushing for a starting berth having netted the late equaliser against Morecambe as well as scoring a hat-trick for the reserves in midweek.

Rovers will be bouyed by the return to training of defenders Gary Sawyer, Adam Virgo and Cian Bolger and winger Joe Anyinsah who may play some part in the game. Chris Zebroski looks set to miss out after he picked up a knock against Crawley last Saturday.

With Saturday approaching Parkinson was eagerly anticipating taking his Valley Parade bow.

"Saturday will obviously be a special occasion, there's no doubt about that," said the new City boss.

"Your first game at home is always something extra special - I have friends and family coming - but I just want to focus on what I have to do with the team.

"I am really looking forward to the day, but we have to try and ensure that it ends on a happy note for us."

Paul Buckle was much more focussed on his sides own build up and was pleased with the availability of previously injured squad members.

"We have not been able to put our best team on to the field, you want to have your full quota of players to chose from, we have not had that yet, but hopefully we will have that soon.

"It has been tough; Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, but that is life. We are not getting the rub of the green at the moment, but hopefully we will get it soon, and get it for the rest of the season.

"This is a big job, to try and get this football club back where it belongs."

Young Strike Seals England Win

Where England had looked ruthless on Friday they looked every bit as insipid on Friday.

Thanks to Ashley Young's solitary first half goal at Wembley the Premier League stars could return to their clubs with a further three points . They deserved just the one.

Fabio Capello's men played out the ninety minutes with an air of complacency, knowing that they were good enough to get the goal to put them one up, all the while failing to contemplate that Wales may produce an attack of any note. It was a superiority complex that seemed not of their own making but that of their manager, though at no point did the eleven men on the field decide amongst themselves to turn the dial up a notch in an attempt justify the 113 world ranking places that separate the Lions from the Dragons.

From the first whistle, then, England came out and looked to monopolise possession, pinging the ball comfortably around their own half. It could have been an attempt to set the tempo of the game, stamp an authority upon the Welsh and get into their heads. What looked like tactics for the first five minutes swiftly became wishful thoughts after ten, the home side not stroking the ball around of their own choice but because of the pressure zone that was the middle of the park, Wales packing five men into their midfield and denying England any space in the central third.

Any joy that was to come England's way was as a result of the front three of Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing. The two widemen in particular were the biggest threats that the home side could conjure up as they twisted and turned, passed and crossed to the beat of a drum, their compatriots more musically on par with the England band on the Wembley terraces. They were blowing.

It was quite apt that the two ex-Villains would combine to open the scoring and notable, too, was the fact that the first time England managed to sew two attacks together they produced a goal. After James Milner's cross was cleared away Gareth Barry immediately sprayed the ball back out to the right flank, Downing able to steal a yard of space off Joe Ledley, his low, driven cross beaten between Wayne Hennessey's left hand and the near post by Young.

With that came hope that the lead could be doubled sooner rather than later as England were suddenly invigorated by the breakthrough, their opponents looking bewildered, there was to be no further test for Hennessey, though, and with the half time whistle came a much needed moment of respite for Wales, a moment that Gary Speed used impeccably.

Three England shots came and went in the first minute of the second half and a wasteful Frank Lampard effort aside there was to be no more football of note from the home side. Wales had spent the majority of the match coping comfortably with all that a half-hearted England had to throw at them and now felt that there was never a better time to fight back. Gareth Bale grew increasingly into the game and, one wayward effort aside, was the key figure for the final thirty minutes, though that mantle could, should, have been taken from the roving Tottenham winger.

With a quarter of an hour left on the clock a free kick from the left was floated onto the far edge of Hart's six yard box. Cardiff Full back Darcy Blake got the better of his marker to cushion the ball back across goal for Robert Earnshaw who connected not with the sweet spot of his left boot but the edge, his shot ballooning over the England goal along with any hope the Welsh had of claiming a point.

The result was greeted with less ecstasy than relief amongst those in the stands, the Welsh left to feel slightly aggrieved at not returning across the Severn Bridge with something to show.

A Podgorica point is all that England require from their final qualifier against Montenegro to secure a spot at the Polish/Ukrainian finals next year, not that a display of such meekness will strike fear into Europe's elite come June.

England are fourth in the world, Wales 117th, it is difficult to see whether this result makes a more of a mockery of Capello's team or the FIFA world rankings, though the answer is most likely both.

Young Strike Saves Unspectacular England

A meagre second half performance from England saw the Lions limp towards qualification for the 2012 European Championships as they took the points against a battling Wales at Wembley.

One goal was enough for the win, Ashley Young the man to sweep home a Stewart Downing cross late in the opening period, it was the second, though, that will have England fans worried as Wales began to even the game out and they would have had a point to take back acrpss the Severn Bridge had Robert Earnshaw not spooned Darcy Blake's cut back over the bar just five yards from an open goal.

There were two changes from Fabio Capello's Bulgarian teamsheet. Friday's notable admission, Frank Lampard, was restored to the the starting XI in place of Scott Parker, the Tottenham man dropping to the bench for fear of receiving the yellow card that would rule him out of England's final group game. Theo Walcott was the other man to lose his place, a hamstring injury putting paid to his night out, James Milner was his replacement in what would become a three man midfield.

The enforced abscense of star hitman Craig Bellamy weakened the Welsh frontline, Steve Morison the lonely figure at the top of Gary Speed's 4-5-1 formation, while fellow suspendee David Vaughan also missed out, though the returns of Jack Collison and Andrew Crofts to Wales' midfield helped to reinforce the Dragons' quest to frustrate the England attack.

England started patiently, monopolising the first five minutes' possession yet unable to break through the steadfast Wales. It wasn't until the seventh minute that fans had an effort to gasp at, John Terry out-muscling Ashley Williams, only to steer his header wide of Wayne Hennessey's goal.

The Welsh 'keeper's hands were rarely involved in the opening exchanges, though his feet were busy with a spree of backpasses, a punch off the head of John Terry was the first notable piece of glovework the Wolves custodian had to execute.

Whichever wing England attacked down their widemen, Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, looked continually threatening against the opposing full backs and it was the quick feet of the latter who carved out a cross from the left, narrowly evading the head of Wayne Rooney, floating through instead for Downing to acrobatically blaze over the crossbar.

As England produced two consecutive waves of attack came the opening goal of the evening. James Milner twisted himself away from his marker on the right flank, his original cross hacked away as far as Gareth Barry who fed the ball forward immediately, again out to the right, this time for Downing, the Liverpool man working a yard of space on the outside of his defender before scything in a cross that was met with a drilled near-post finish from Young.

England were invigorated and Rooney came inches from doubling the England advantage, Young the instigator once again, this time working a short corner and flashing a cross across the face of goal.

Within the first minute of the second half England had managed a further three attempts on Hennessey's woodwork, intricate passing allowing Young to test the Welsh number one before Downing saw his shot blocked. Gareth Barry swiped wildly at the third attempt to give the Welsh a moment of respite.

Having produced nothing of note for the best part of 55 minutes Wales suddenly had England scampering. Aaron Ramsey was played into the England box only to find his progress halted by a nerveless challenge from Gareth Barry.

The visitors continued to attack and with a quarter of an hour to go missed their golden opportunity. A free kick was whipped onto the far edge of Joe Hart's six yard box, Darcy Blake knocking the ball back across goal to leave Robert Earnshaw, scorer of over 200 career goals, with what should have been the simplest of tasks. The substitute's connection, however, was anything but sweet as he sent his shot off target with the goal at his mercy.

Suddenly the Welsh had some wind in their sails, Joe Ledley pinging a ball across the box which Chris Gunter collected, slamming his effort against the strong right hand of Joe Hart, not that it would have counted anyway, the full back punished for shoving Ashley Cole to the floor as he controlled the ball on his chest.

That move summed up Wales performance, coming so close and fighting so hard, yet fatally flawed when push came to shove in the final third.