EFL: Bristol Rovers win promotion after dramatic final day

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Bristol Rovers 7 - 0 Scunthorpe

Bristol Rovers pulled off a remarkable 7-0 win over Scunthorpe to seal promotion back to League One.

On a day of drama, the basic task ahead for Bristol Rovers was to get a better result than Northampton, who were away at Barrow. Very few thought it would come like this.

This is what happened.

This is a slightly altered and condensed version of the report that's available on the Bristol Rovers website. Read that here. 

Aaron Collins was the first to threaten but went to ground a little easily in the area and referee Breakspear waved away his protests, before first Sam Finley and then Trevor Clarke let fly with long-range efforts, both of which were off target.

It was one-way Gas traffic for the first 10 minutes, but without a shot on target to trouble the 17-year-old Iron goalkeeper Watson.

A promising move in the 14th minute was curtailed by the offside flag as Luke Thomas played a neat one-two with Sam Finlay, captaining the side in the absence of the suspended Coutts.

However, a minute later, the Gas were ahead as Anderson’s cross was deflected into his own net by the unlucky Delaney as Harry Anderson was waiting to pounce.

It was two-nil in the 21st minute as Elliot Anderson crossed for Connor Taylor to head home. Northampton were 3-0 up at that stage so Bristol Rovers needed another six goals to go up automatically.

Harry Anderson did well to win a corner in the 38th and, when it was cleared, Elliot Anderson almost caught Watson off-guard, forcing the goalkeeper into a smart save at his near post.

A late first-half Barrow goal meant Rovers came out for the second half with a spring in their step.

They so nearly scored straight from the kick-off. Collins sliding in and only a whisker away from connecting with Elliot Anderson’s cross. Luke Thomas then raced clear on goal, only for Watson to pull off a sprawling save as the Gas upped the ante.

Aaron Collins made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute, firing low beyond Watson into the bottom corner. He nearly made it a quickfire double but his shot on the turn was deflected wide. Evans made it 4-0 in the 61st minute; the Filton Ave Figo shooting with the outside of his right foot and beyond Watson.

Sam Nicholson then got on the end of a deep Evans cross, but his header fell agonisingly wide of the post. The Scottish winger then won a free-kick on the edge of the area in the 75th minute. From it, Evans produced yet another moment of magic, curling beyond Watson into the top corner to make it Rovers five-nil up.

It was six just moments later as Collins tapped in from two yards out. At this stage, just one more goal was potentially needed but this all depended on whether Northampton could score again. 

Then came the moment that mattered in the 85th minute as Elliot Anderson rose high at the back post to head home to send Rovers fans crazy.

After a pitch invasion which saw a delay, the game did continue, with proceedings at Barrow already concluded; Northampton had won 3-1, meaning that Rovers knew if they saw out the game, promotion would be secured.

Scunthorpe re-started the game brightly, seemingly intent on spoiling the party, winning a free kick in a dangerous area. Thankfully for Bristol Rovers, they saw out the remaining minutes to seal a remarkable result and an immediate return to League One.

Away reaction

A remarkable afternoon for the home side. For Scunthorpe, another miserable afternoon. They finished the campaign bottom of the EFL, having picked up only 26 points from 46 matches.

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