Bristol Rovers 1 - 2 Wycombe Wanderers: FLW report as Joe Low steals late winner for Chairboys

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·28 September 2024

Bristol Rovers 1 - 2 Wycombe Wanderers: FLW report as Joe Low steals late winner for Chairboys

Match report, player ratings and manager reaction from the Memorial Stadium as Bristol Rovers took on Wycombe Wanderers.

Wycombe Wanderers came from behind to beat a frustrated Bristol Rovers 2-1 at the Memorial Stadium.

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The game started fairly evenly, as both teams looked to work each other out quickly. Jack Grimmer turned Scott Sinclair inside-out early on, but his cross didn't match the quality he'd shown to get past his man.

The first shot of the game was from Grant Ward, 15 minutes in. The ranged effort was deflected behind for a corner which came to nothing.

The Gas took the lead just moments later. A poor ball from Ravizzoli was pounced on, which was played through to Sinclair, who couldn't miss.

Wycombe looked a yard short of their opponents in the opening 20 minutes. They forced a corner though, which was delivered well by Dan Harvie. David Wheeler met it but put far too much on his header.

The Chairboys just looked disjointed and were almost punished when Sinclair returned the favour from earlier in the half and cut back across goal. Nobody was there to tap home, which was a let-off for the visitors.

Richard Kone had Wycombe's best chance of the half. After Josh Griffiths made a meal of an inswinging corner, the striker headed over an empty net, the defender marking him just doing enough to not let Kone get clean contact on the ball.

Sinclair had a chance to punish the visitors for sloppy play again just before half-time, but his shot curved into the stands behind the goal.

The score remained 1-0 at the break. The whole contest wasn't a great advert for League One so far, as both teams looked somewhat disjointed. Rovers had made the most of an error from Wycombe though and held the lead.

Matt Bloomfield's men looked to make amends for a sub-par first-half showing, as they started the second period by controlling possession. The away team's passing continued to let them down though, as George Thomas flashed a low-driven effort past the far post after picking up a loose ball.

Both Matt Taylor and Bloomfield made changes early on. Gaitlin O'Donkor was withdrawn for Promise Omochere for the hosts. Fred Onyedinma and Bez Lubala entered the pitch for Wycombe, in place of Kone and Wheeler.

Wycombe's first shot on target came just 25 minutes from time. The lively Onyedinma stung the palms of Josh Griffiths from distance, but it was a routine stop for the on-loan West Brom keeper.

The Gas wanted to add a bit more defensive stability in the closing 20 minutes of the game, so they introduced Kamil Conteh and Jack Hunt. Their opponents had been the better team in the second period, but were still yet to properly trouble Rovers.

However, Harvie would get Wycombe back on terms with an absolute stunner that curled over Griffiths with his weaker right foot. It seemed to have been coming for a while.

Poised at 1–1 entering the final ten minutes, either team could potentially snatch a victory, but the momentum was with the Chairboys. Josh Scowen had a one-on-one saved brilliantly by the Rovers keeper, minutes from time.

Jamie Lindsay fluffed a great chance to grab the winner, firing over a cutback from inside the box.

Tyreeq Bakinson then replaced Cameron Humphreys for the visitors, as the midfield had really struggled to have the desired impact on the match for Bloomfield's side.

With just seconds to spare in stoppage time, Wycombe snatched the winner as former Bristol City defender Joe Low's towering header from a Dan Harvie corner saw him score on his return to Bristol once again.

"We want Taylor out" was the cry from the home fans at full-time, as the Gas fell to their fourth successive defeat and dropped into the relegation zone. Wycombe marched on, now five unbeaten in League One. After a lacklusture first half, the Chairboys secured a crucial three points on the road.