Josh Coburn’s first goal since January was not enough to inspire a comeback as Bristol Rovers suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat at Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday.
In their penultimate game of the season, Rovers conceded early goals in both halves, undermining what for long periods was a controlled performance. Former Gas skipper Luke Leahy opened the scoring in Shropshire with a bullet header and Rob Street doubled the lead after the interval.
Coburn finished off Scott Sinclair’s cross to set up a grandstand finish, but good chances to equalise went begging as Shrewsbury hung on under intense pressure at the New Meadow.
Rovers stayed 15th in the table with just Sunday’s visit of Bolton Wanderers to the Mem left to play. Shrewsbury finished the night in 12th.
It just three minutes for Leahy – a Rovers player from 2019-21 – to reacquaint himself with his former supporters, meeting Elliott Bennett’s deep corner with a late run and powerful header to leave Ellery Balcombe with no chance. Leahy held his stare towards the away end as he wheeled away to celebrate.
Rovers were slow out of the blocks and playing from behind, but they gradually established a footing in the game, with their physical front three increasingly involved. Ryan Loft and John Marquis linked brilliantly 40 yards from goal to draw the defence out of shape, and Grant Ward surged into the vacated space before unleashing a powerful drive that was brilliantly blocked by Tom Flanagan.
The Gas were in control of the possession battle by the midway point of the half and pressure was beginning to be applied. It almost resulted in a penalty when Josh Coburn chased Loft’s through ball and he was shoved to the floor by Chey Dunkley. Rovers were adamant it was in the area, but referee Lee Swabey sprayed the foam a couple of inches outside.
Sam Finley let fly from the set piece and it was superbly blocked by Leahy en route to goal, but Rovers kept the pressure on until the interval, and they saw a second decent penalty appeal waved away by Mr Swabey as Dunkley clumsily collided with Coburn in the area.
Rovers would have been confident of finding a route back into the game in the second half, but Street landed a suckerpunch eight minutes after the resumption. He burst away from Jarell Quansah and found the bottom corner of Balcombe’s net.
Barton responded with a quintuple substitution, including the introduction of League One Player of the Season Aaron Collins and Antony Evans. It brought more vigour to Rovers’ display and the deficit was halved with 20 minutes remaining.
One of the replacements, Scott Sinclair, was at the fore, with his hanging cross outfoxing goalkeeper Marko Marosi and Coburn was on hand to finish off from point-blank range, ending a goal drought stretching back to January 7.
Rovers had Shrewsbury penned in their own territory from that moment, and they should have been level when Collins showed the speedy footwork that earned him acclaim as the league’s best player, speeding away from his man and driving at goal with 15 minutes to play. Marosi must have anticipated a shot, but Collins slid a reverse pass into Coburn who was brilliantly denied by the sprawling goalkeeper.
The Gas produced another gilt-edged chance with seven minutes remaining, but the unmarked Luca Hoole could not direct Lewis Gibson’s cross on target with a free header from 10 yards.
Rovers sustained their pressure in the closing stages, but Shrewsbury desperately clung on for their first win in nine games. The Gas have now gone four games without a win heading into their final fixture of the campaign.
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Key Events
Joey Barton's reaction
Joey Barton took little solace from the "loads of good things" Bristol Rovers did in a 2-1 defeat at Shrewsbury Town that "encapsulated the season" for the Gas.
Player ratings
Tough one to take for Rovers. Shrewsbury were very limited but two shots on target yielded two goals.
Still, Rovers lacked potency and the goals were soft.
Press conference coming up
Shrewsbury have just completed the in-vogue lap of appreciation... We'll be speaking to Joey Barton in a moment.
We will have his reaction and player ratings for you shortly.
Rovers sustaining attacks
Shrewsbury have been pushed onto the back foot. Can Rovers make this pressure pay?
Has to score
Hoole is totally unmarked from Gibson's cross but he cannot keep his header down and it flies high over the bar.
Yellow card
Aaron Collins is booked for pulling Shipley over after Rovers were awarded a free-kick. Shipley was holding onto the ball.
What. A. Save
Collins at his absolute best, speeding away from one man before driving at goal. He takes the unselfish option and feeds Coburn, who is denied by a magnificent sprawling save from Marosi.
Gas corner.
Collins goes for the overhead and doesn't make contact, drawing a free-kick and a chance for Shrewsbury to eek away a minute or two.
During the pause, they bring on Rekeil Pyke for goalscorer Rob Street.
Gas corner
Rovers are turning the screw here. Evans' free-kick deflects over for a corner.
Collins' cross is just over Quansah's head.
GOAL! Shrewsbury 2-1 Rovers
JOSH COBURN!
Slice of fortune as Sinclair's cross outfoxes Marosi and hits the crossbar, with Coburn on hand to nod it home.
He slams into the woodwork for good measure, but he gets up and trots back with Rovers back for the kick-off.
Gas corner
A wicked free-kick from Macdonald deflects wide.
It is taken quickly before Macdonald crosses for Quansah, who heads wide.
Blasted over
Evans and Collins exchange passes 20 yards from goal but the former cannot keep his left-footed shot down.
Yellow card
Luca Hoole is booked almost immediately. He brought down Phillips after a slack touch.
Quintuple sub
Barton empties the bench Scott Sinclair, Aaron Collins, Luca Hoole, Antony Evans and Calum Macdonald replace Lamare Bogarde, John Marquis, James Gibbons, Ryan Loft and Lewis Gordon.
GOAL! Shrewsbury 2-0 Rovers
Rob Street.
He leaves Quansah in his wake and finds the bottom corner. Suckerpunch.
Rovers have probed without being incisive in this second half. Shrewsbury have taken advantage in opportunistic fashion.
Loft causing problems
His physicality is causing issues for the Shrewsbury centre-backs. He header on for Marquis but he cannot make clean contact with his shot.
No changes
Same XI on the pitch for Rovers as they await Shrewsbury's return from the tunnel.
Half-time player ratings
Ellery Balcombe - 6
James Gibbons - 6
Jarell Quansah - 6
Lewis Gibson - 6
Lewis Gordon - 6
Lamare Bogarde - 7
Sam Finley (c) - 6
Grant Ward - 7
John Marquis - 6
Ryan Loft - 7
Josh Coburn - 6
Half time: Shrewsbury 1-0 Rovers
The Gas have been the better side here, but they are behind at the interval.
Penalty appeal
It's clumsy from Dunkley as he duels with Coburn in the box and the Gas striker appeals for a penalty, but Mr Swabey is unmoved.
Seen them given.
Chance
Gibbons' cross is nodded into the centre by Marquis and Dunkley cannot clear his lines. The ball lands back at the feet of Marquis and he has the chance to pick out a teammate or go for goal, but his touch lets him down.
