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 »

Micky Mellon was impressed with what he saw from Tranmere as they opened the season with a 1-0 win over Walsall, in a game that saw Premier League referee Mike Dean officiate his own team.Rovers fan Dean stepped out of the home stands after half time when an assistant referee pulled his hamstring and, after consulting the Walsall bench, took over as fourth official.Callum McManaman stroked home ...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 debut goal for Callum McManaman gave Tranmere a 1-0 opening-day win over Walsall.The former Premier League winger struck midway through the second half to give Micky Mellon’s side a deserved win.McManaman also had Rovers’ best moment of a goalless first half as fellow new signing Emmanuel Dieseruvwe played him through on goal, only to be denied by a perfectly-timed tackle from Mann...Full Story »

Micky Mellon begins his second spell as Tranmere manager with an opening-day Sky Bet League Two fixture against Walsall at Prenton Park.Mellon left his role with cinch Premiership outfit Dundee United at the end of last season before rejoining Tranmere, where he guided the club to back-to-back promotions during his first stint in charge.The Scot has bolstered a squad which reached the League Two...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 »

Morecambe are one victory away from reaching the third tier for the first time after making it through to the Sky Bet League Two play-off final with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Tranmere.The Shrimps, who missed out on automatic promotion by one point on the final day of the season, took a vital lead through Aaron Wildig in only the ninth minute of the game and held on to that advantage until Jam...Full Story »

Morecambe are without Stephen Hendrie for their Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final home leg against Tranmere on Sunday.The Shrimps won the first tie 2-1, but Scottish defender Hendrie suffered an ankle injury during the game and will play no further part this season.Brad Lyons could also miss out after sustaining a suspected broken nose at Prenton Park on Thursday.Liam McAlinden, who scored ...Full Story »

Delighted Morecambe boss Derek Adams saluted a ‘perfect night’ for his team after claiming a 2-1 win at Tranmere in their League Two play-off semi-final first leg.There were almost 3,500 home fans inside Prenton Park for the first time this season, but the Shrimps defended valiantly and secured a precious lead heading into Sunday’s second leg.“We’re obviously deligh...Full Story »

It is advantage Morecambe in their Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final against Tranmere after they triumphed 2-1 in a feisty first leg on the Wirral.The Shrimps defended superbly as Rovers – under caretaker boss Ian Dawes following Keith Hill’s sacking last week – failed to add to their first-half goal.Derek Adams’ side, who only missed out on automatic promotion by a ...Full Story »