LIONEL MESSI admits it was "a shame" he missed another prestige friendly for Inter Miami. Fans in Hong Kong - and even the territory's Government - are furious that Messi was left on the bench for Sunday's game because of a hamstring injury. Messi said: "Unfortunately in football things can happen in any game, that we may have an injury. It happened to me. "I couldn't play in the Hong Kong ...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor bemoaned his side’s inconsistent form as the Pirates lost 2-0 at home to relegation-threatened Fleetwood.Jayden Stockley and Ronan Coughlan both found the net to secure Fleetwood a second consecutive win, leaving them six points from safety in League One.The defeat – Rovers’ fourth in their last five home matches in all competitions – en...Full Story »

Doncaster boss Grant McCann hit out at referee Scott Simpson after his side’s 1-1 draw at Sutton.It was a real battle between two of the bottom three sides in the Football League.Craig Eastmond’s 78th-minute strike was cancelled out by Lee Angol’s stoppage-time penalty.But a frustrated McCann stressed his side had two “blatant” penalties earlier in the game not give...Full Story »

Matt Taylor enjoyed a triumphant return to former club Exeter and hailed a first clean sheet since his arrival as Bristol Rovers manager in December.On-loan Nottingham Forest midfielder Brandon Aguilera marked his Rovers debut with the only goal of the game, a stunning strike from 20 yards that flew into the top corner, after just 15 minutes at St James Park.“I really liked us first half, ...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers atoned for a 1-0 home defeat by Exeter City in Sky Bet League One 11 days ago by winning by the same scoreline at St James Park thanks to Brandon Aguilera’s stunning debut goal.Exeter started brightly and Vince Harper shot low at Jed Ward from an angle, but Rovers went in front when Aguilera, signed on loan from Nottingham Forest this week, smashed the ball into the top corn...Full Story »

Matt Taylor picked out Bristol Rovers’ first-half performance and the form of striker Chris Martin as the foundations for a first Sky Bet League One victory in five games.Martin and Luke Thomas found the net inside the first quarter of the match to put the Pirates in control, and after Mark Harris had pulled one back, Harvey Vale sealed Rovers’ first win of 2024.“We took respon...Full Story »

Dave Challinor labelled his table-topping Stockport side “sensational” as they swept aside sorry Doncaster in a 5-1 win to extend their advantage at the Sky Bet League Two summit.Stockport were two goals ahead after 10 minutes and four up mere seconds into the second half before strolling to victory in a performance from which Challinor could find no negatives.“You can’t ...Full Story »

Sky Bet League Two leaders Stockport showed their title credentials as they swept aside Doncaster in a thoroughly dominant 5-1 win.Paddy Madden scored twice, with Connor Evans and Tanto Olaofe also finding the net alongside an Owen Bailey own goal as the Hatters ran riot at the Eco-Power Stadium and could easily have won by a greater margin.Madden opened the scoring after five minutes when he he...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers ended a four-match losing streak in Sky Bet League One as Chris Martin’s 11th goal of the season helped his side to a 3-1 win against Oxford.Martin, who extended his contract with the Gas earlier this week, met Antony Evans’ flick from a Jack Hunt cross to plant a left-foot shot low past goalkeeper Jamie Cumming in the 16th minute.And it was a two-goal lead for the hom...Full Story »

Exeter boss Gary Caldwell claimed Bristol Rovers fans inadvertently boosted his side by booing their own team during the Grecians’ 1-0 victory at Memorial Stadium that eased the Devon club’s relegation worries.Teenage striker Sonny Cox’s close-range finish in the 12th minute after Brentford loanee Matt Cox spilled Jack Aitchison’s 20-yard shot put Exeter on course for a f...Full Story »

Teenage striker Sonny Cox eased Exeter’s relegation worries as his early goal was enough to secure a 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers.The 19-year-old proved to be the hero when he nipped in to score from close range in the 12th minute after Brentford loanee Matt Cox had fumbled Jack Aitchison’s 20-yard shot.It ultimately secured Exeter’s first victory on their travels since early Sept...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor questioned referee Gavin Ward as his Pirates lost at home for only the second time in Sky Bet League One this season.Blackpool came out of the blocks quickest to score twice in the first 20 minutes at the Memorial Stadium en route to a 2-1 victory.Kyle Joseph twice crossed low, initially for CJ Hamilton to shoot into the top corner of the Rovers net in the fift...Full Story »

Blackpool made it three Sky Bet League One wins in a row for the first time this season as they triumphed 2-1 against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.CJ Hamilton opened the scoring in the fifth minute as he sidefooted a shot into the top corner, despite Josh Grant’s best efforts on the line. It came after a run and low cross from Kyle Joseph.Luke Thomas then spurned a gilt-edged cha...Full Story »

Norwich manager David Wagner can look forward to a reunion with close friend Jurgen Klopp following a 3-1 win over Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium that secured a fourth-round tie at Liverpool.Matt Taylor’s League One side threatened an upset when Luke McCormick fired them ahead after 20 minutes but Norwich rallied in the second half with goals from Gabriel Sara, Adam Idah and Kenny ...Full Story »

Newport manager Graham Coughlan is delighted with the momentum his side are building after winning 1-0 at Doncaster.The Exiles have lost just twice in their last 12 matches in all competitions and head into an FA Cup replay against Eastleigh with the carrot of a home tie against Manchester United awaiting the winner.Their performance at Doncaster was not particularly strong but Seb Palmer-Houlde...Full Story »

Barnsley head coach Neill Collins praised his side’s first-half performance after they beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 at OakwellDevante Cole and Corey O’Keefe scored either side of Chris Martin’s equaliser to wrap up the three points.Collins said: “It was a tough game. It was a game that I knew was going to be very tough.“The fine balance is always emphasising to the team ...Full Story »

Barnsley returned to winning ways after defeating Bristol Rovers 2-1 at Oakwell.Devante Cole and Corey O’Keefe scored either side of Chris Martin’s equaliser to wrap up the three points for Barnsley, who had drawn their last two league games.The Tykes had a flurry of chances in the 32nd minute as Rovers could not clear. Adam Phillips came closest, but Matthew Cox was able to tip arou...Full Story »

Seb Palmer-Houlden netted a stoppage-time winner as Newport continued their strong run of form with a 1-0 triumph at Doncaster.Clear-cut chances were hard to come by during a game in which both sides lacked quality in their creativity.But Palmer-Houlden snatched the three points three minutes into added time when he connected with a side-foot volley as he met Lewis Payne’s cross in the mid...Full Story »

Carlton Morris’ controversial stoppage-time equaliser denied Burnley what would have been a crucial victory over relegation rivals Luton as it finished 1-1 at Turf Moor.Zeki Amdouni’s 36th-minute strike looked like seeing Burnley complete the double over Rob Edwards’ side, but Morris headed home Alfie Doughty’s cross in the second minute of stoppage time.Celebrations were...Full Story »

Norwich head coach David Wagner pulled no punches after his Championship side were held to a 1-1 draw by League One Bristol Rovers in the third round of the FA Cup.There were calls for Wagner to go from some quarters at the final whistle at Carrow Road while there was also criticism of the quality of football being produced by his team during the game.Grant Ward cancelled out Ashley Barnes&rsquo...Full Story »