Blackburn are expected to be without Joe Rankin-Costello and Bradley Johnson when they host Morecambe in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.The duo are not expected to be fit in time to feature in the clash after missing Saturday’s season opener against Swansea.However, manager Tony Mowbray has no new injury concerns to deal with following their Sky Bet Championship curtain-rais...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton will use the depth of his squad for the Carabao Cup first-round clash with Cheltenham.Barton has signalled his intention to involve those players who did not feature in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Mansfield, during which skipper Paul Coutts was sent off.Strikers Brett Pitman (ankle) and Aaron Collins (thigh) are unlikely to be involved and defender Trevor Clark...Full Story »

Danny Johnson scored a penalty in the sixth minute of stoppage-time as Mansfield beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 in Sky Bet League Two.A brilliant individual goal from Cian Harries looked to have rescued a 1-1 draw for Rovers but debutant Johnson kept his cool to send the goalkeeper the wrong way after Oli Hawkins had been tugged in the box by Mark Hughes.The visitors played the last 13 minutes with 10 ...Full Story »

Fuming Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton criticised referee Josh Smith after his 10-man side lost 2-1 to Mansfield after a late penalty.The game was level at 1-1 when Paul Coutts was sent off for an off-the-ball incident involving Danny Johnson in the 77th minute.The Stags then won it six minutes into stoppage-time as Johnson scored from the spot after Mark Hughes had tugged Oli Hawkins.“We ...Full Story »

A goal in each half helped Blackburn to a 2-1 opening-day Championship victory over Swansea in manager Russell Martin first game in charge of the visitors.In an end-to-end encounter, last season’s beaten play-off finalists were the architects of their own downfall, contributing to both Blackburn’s goals.The hosts pressed Swansea with purpose and were rewarded in the 36th minute throu...Full Story »

Blackburn have a shortage of central defenders for the visit of Swansea.Scott Wharton’s long-term Achilles problem is likely to keep him out until next month while Daniel Ayala’s ongoing fitness issues mean he has to be closely monitored.Midfielder Joe Rankin-Costello had targeted the opening weekend for his return from a metatarsal injury but is probably short of fitness, Bradley Da...Full Story »

Hamilton hit back from 4-0 down to draw a cinch Championship thriller at Raith Rovers 4-4.The visitors, who finished bottom of the Premiership last season, produced a stunning comeback in the final 25 minutes at Stark’s Park.Rovers took the lead in the 13th minute when referee Nick Walsh spotted a handball and Lewis Vaughan beat goalkeeper Ryan Fulton from the spot.It was 2-0 in the 25th m...Full Story »

Dundee are through to the Scottish Premiership play-off final despite losing 1-0 to Raith Rovers at Dens Park in the second leg.The Dark Blues were in the driving seat ahead of the semi-final second leg after winning 3-0 in midweek at Stark’s Park.However, James McPake’s men were stunned when Rovers opened the scoring in the first half through Lewis Vaughan.Rovers had further chances...Full Story »

John McGlynn insists his battered-and-bruised Raith Rovers squad are up for the play-off fight despite seeing their injury woes continue to mount.The Kirkcaldy outfit squeezed past Fife rivals Dunfermline to set up a two-game semi-final shoot-out with Dundee this week.But the 2-0 win – sealed thanks to goals from Lewis Vaughan and Gozie Ugwu – came at a cost.On-loan Rangers ace Kai K...Full Story »

Raith Rovers are a step closer to the Premiership after dumping Fife rivals Dunfermline out of the play-offs.Stevie Crawford’s Pars wasted a string of chances across both legs and they were made to pay as Lewis Vaughan and Gozie Ugwu sealed a 2-0 win in the Stark’s Park return.John McGlynn’s men now face a two-game semi-final shoot-out with Dundee next week – with the win...Full Story »

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray accepted he may be without the ‘talent’ of Adam Armstrong next season after his third hat-trick of the campaign helped Rovers to a comfortable 5-2 win over Birmingham.Armstrong’s exploits have caught the eye, despite Blackburn’s struggles in the second half of the season, and his second treble in three outings left him with 29 goals for the ...Full Story »

Adam Armstrong scored his second successive Ewood Park hat-trick as Blackburn hammered Birmingham 5-2.After a Thomas Kaminski error allowed Kristian Pedersen to put Birmingham ahead, Armstrong sprung into action to lead Rovers to an impressive victory in their final game of the season.He confidently hammered in a 27th-minute penalty to restore parity before Ben Brereton’s composed finish i...Full Story »

Blackpool will check on Sullay Kaikai and Ethan Robson ahead of their home game against Bristol Rovers.Kaikai has missed the last two matches with a hamstring problem, while fellow midfielder Robson (groin) was absent for the midweek win against Doncaster after limping off at Northampton.Grant Ward (calf), Daniel Gretarsson, Matty Virtue, CJ Hamilton and Gary Madine all remain on the sidelines.T...Full Story »

Tom Trybull could be missing for Blackburn’s final game of the season against Birmingham.The Norwich loanee sat out the match against Rotherham last week with a back problem and could have played his last game for Rovers.Lewis Holtby is expected to make his final appearance for the club before he returns to Germany at the end of his contract.Long-term absentee Daniel Ayala, who has not pla...Full Story »

Dunfermline and Raith Rovers fought out a goalless draw in the first leg of their Scottish Premiership play-off tie at East End Park.The profligate Pars had a series of attempts on goal in the quarter-final encounter but when they did hit the target Kirkcaldy keeper Jamie MacDonald was equal to the task.John McGlynn’s men came back into the tie in a more even second half but neither s...Full Story »

Crewe boss David Artell described it was a travesty that his side did not run up a cricket score against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.Artell’s side, destined to finish in mid-table after an encouraging return to the third tier this term, were too strong for Joey Barton’s already-relegated Gas, but Callum Ainley’s 19th-minute strike proved to be the game’s only g...Full Story »

Relegated Bristol Rovers will again be without suspended midfielder Ed Upson for the Sky Bet League One match against Crewe.Upson was shown a straight red card in the defeat at Lincoln, with the club’s appeal against his three-match ban unsuccessful.Fit-again forward James Daly, midfielder Zain Westbrooke and defender Jack Baldwin all returned to the side for last weekend’s loss at P...Full Story »

Rotherham are sweating on the availability of Viktor Johansson against Blackburn.The goalkeeper suffered a head injury against Barnsley last week and is going through concussion protocols.Defender Clark Robertson is due to return to training on Thursday after an Achilles problem.Boss Paul Warne says several players are playing through injuries and will do so again against Rovers on an afternoon ...Full Story »