Joey Barton praised the resilience of Bristol Rovers striker Aaron Collins after his two goals helped sink battling Rochdale in a 4-2 win.Rovers went ahead in the 10th minute when Antony Evans curled a free-kick beyond the reach of Jay Lynch and were two up in the 51st minute through Collins’ 25-yard rocket.But Rochdale replied nine minutes later when Jake Beesley flicked home a Corey O&rs...Full Story »

Dario Zanatta’s penalty earned Raith Rovers a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock to leave them second in the cinch Championship.Blair Alston shot straight at Jamie MacDonald from a good Kilmarnock chance early on and the visitors lost Brad Lyons to injury after just 12 minutes, Rory McKenzie taking his place.MacDonald denied Oli Shaw while Aidan Connolly carried the main threat for Rovers in a goalle...Full Story »

Jan Paul Van Hecke scored his first Blackburn goal as Tony Mowbray’s side beat stuttering promotion rivals Bournemouth 2-0 to claim a fourth-straight Championship victory.Van Hecke headed home midway through the second half to add to Ben Pearson’s first-half own goal to stretch second-placed Bournemouth’s winless run to five games.The home side handed Republic of Ireland intern...Full Story »

Aaron Collins netted twice as Bristol Rovers beat Rochdale 4-2 in a League Two thriller at the Memorial Stadium.Rovers went ahead in the 10th minute when Antony Evans curled a sweet free-kick beyond the reach of Jay Lynch from 20 yards after a foul by Eoghan O’Connell on Collins.The hosts increased their lead in the 51st minute through a 25-yard rocket from Collins. But Rochdale replied ni...Full Story »

Pep Guardiola brushed aside controversy as he hailed his Manchester City side’s hard-fought 1-0 win over 10-man Wolves on Saturday.Raheem Sterling settled an ill-tempered contest at the Etihad Stadium by netting his 100th Premier League goal from a contentiously awarded penalty in the second half.That came after Wolves striker Raul Jimenez had been sent off in the latter stages of the firs...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers are missing midfielder Sam Finley and defender Cian Harries for their clash with Rochdale.Both players were sent off in the 2-1 home defeat to Port Vale on Tuesday night and are suspended.Finley, one of Rovers’ most effective players, starts a three-match ban and his place in the team could be taken by winger Luke Thomas.“Obviously at this moment in time, we’ve g...Full Story »

Joey Barton admitted his Bristol Rovers side had to be more disciplined after they finished the 2-1 defeat to third-placed Port Vale with nine men.Sam Finley was dismissed for an off-the-ball incident in the 15th minute and Cian Harries was red-carded for a 77th-minute foul on Ben Garrity that denied a scoring opportunity.Vale led 2-0 at the break thanks to Garrity, who volleyed home from the ed...Full Story »

Darrell Clarke made a happy return to the Memorial Stadium as third-placed Port Vale secured a 2-1 League Two victory over a Bristol Rovers side who ended the game with nine men.The former Rovers boss saw his side have a man advantage from the 15th minute when midfielder Sam Finley was sent off on the advice of an assistant referee after clashing with Tom Conlon in an off-the-ball incident.Vale ...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers are unlikely to make many changes for Tuesday’s clash with Port Vale after returning to winning ways in the FA Cup last time out.Rovers ended a three-match winless run with a 2-1 victory over Sutton in their second-round clash at the weekend and they could stick with the same XI when they take on the Valiants.Josh Grant remains out with a hamstring problem, while Alfie Kilgo...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton wants his side to bag a “nice” opponent in Monday’s FA Cup third-round draw after they saw off League Two rivals Sutton with a 2-1 comeback win on Saturday.Sutton struck in the 50th minute when Will Randall-Hurren darted in to convert Donovan Wilson’s cross, but – seven minutes later – Aaron Collins levelled from the penalty spo...Full Story »

Exeter boss Matt Taylor was left furious by the goal which sent his side crashing out of the FA Cup.The Grecians lost 2-1 at Cambridge, with Harvey Knibbs heading in the winner two minutes from time.The goal was initially ruled out for offside against Sam Smith, but was then allowed to stand after protests that Smith was not active following Wes Hoolahan’s cross.Taylor’s side had led...Full Story »

Tony Mowbray praised Blackburn’s ability to “win ugly” after they edged a 1-0 win over local rivals Preston.The pouring rain and swirling wind made for atrocious conditions, particularly in the first half, meaning that passing football was at a premium because of the surface water on the pitch.But Rovers fashioned the one moment of real quality and with it, the three points, th...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers came from behind to book their place in the FA Cup third round thanks to a narrow 2-1 victory at home to League Two rivals Sutton.The away side came close early on before Rovers goalkeeper James Belshaw was sharply off his line to thwart David Ajiboye.At the other end, Antony Evans’ effort was confidently saved by veteran goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.Midway through the first hal...Full Story »

Harvey Knibbs struck a controversial late winner as Cambridge beat Exeter 2-1 to reach the FA Cup third round for the first time in five years.Knibbs headed in Wes Hoolahan’s cross two minutes from the end but saw it disallowed for offside, only for the goal to then be awarded following Cambridge protestations.The visitors had earlier gone ahead when Jubril Okedina clipped Sam Nombe in the...Full Story »

Ben Brereton Diaz scored his 17th of the season as Blackburn closed the gap on the top two with a 1-0 win over local rivals Preston.Played in poor conditions with surface water making free-flowing football impossible, Rovers dug deep to edge the derby and their Chilean striker made the difference with a towering header – only a half-chance in itself – to secure maximum points.It is p...Full Story »

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson claimed his side would need to play “doubly well” to get points at Celtic Park after hitting out at the decision to allow Kyogo Furuhashi’s only goal.Furuhashi was clearly ahead of the Hearts defence and looked marginally ahead of the ball too when Anthony Ralston drilled in a cross which the Japan international turned home to give Celtic a 1-0 win.Bo...Full Story »

A controversial goal from Kyogo Furuhashi was enough to give Celtic victory over Hearts in a close encounter at Parkhead.The Japan forward looked like he might be marginally offside as he converted Anthony Ralston’s cross in the 33rd minute but Bobby Madden and his officials gave the goal.Celtic had other chances but Hearts came back strongly after the break with Barrie McKay causing a num...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers look set to be without Josh Grant for their FA Cup second-round tie with Sutton after the versatile midfielder joined the Pirates’ lengthy casualty list.Grant is likely to be missing for at least a few games after being forced off in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Forest Green with a hamstring problem.He joins long-term absentees Alfie Kilgour (knee), Anssi Jaakkola (Ach...Full Story »

Aynsley Pears is set to start in goal for Blackburn in Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship derby with Preston at Ewood Park.The former Middlesbrough goalkeeper stepped up for the last 35 minutes of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Stoke after Thomas Kaminski went down injured.Pears, making his first appearance since January, contributed to a second successive Rovers clean sheet and looks certain ...Full Story »

The Atletico Mineiro striker risked his ex’s wrath by telling Camila Angelo ‘I love you so much’ as he rested his hands on her tummy. Hulk and Camila Angelo posed with the baby bump Credit: https://www.instagram.com/hulkparaiba/ The Atletico Mineiro striker took his family to his latest game Credit: https://www.instagram.com/hulkparaiba/ The loved-up pair enjoyed some R&...Full Story »