Bristol Rovers 2 Shrewsbury Town 0 - Report and pictures

Analysis

Billy Bodin's 10th and 11th goals of the season earned the points and left Town winless in five but Paul Hurst and Shrews fans were left smarting at some of Brett Huxtable's calls.

Ryan Yates was dismissed for a second yellow card five minutes before the break and Bodin's first, a penalty from Toto Nsiala's foul, both looked very harsh decisions.

Town looked a match against their confident hosts before the dismissal, while the second-half was barely underway before Bodin dropped under barely any pressure of Nsiala.

Wins elsewhere for Port Vale and Swindon were far from ideal, but Gillingham's late defeat was good news, alongside Oldham who were beat 3-0.

Tuesday's game in hand against Millwall at Greenhous Meadow looks crucial and could move Salop to 17th - but for now they occupy a drop zone spot and seem bereft of confidence.

Hurst opted to partner Louis Dodds and Tyler Roberts in attack for the first time, Roberts had previously been used as a withdrawn striker with Dodds wide left, leading to questions of the duo playing together.

There were recalls for both wingers Shaun Whalley and Alex Rodman, who replaced Adam El-Abd and Freddie Ladapo and Town reverted back to 4-4-2.

Salop were targeting the end of a horrid run at the hands of Bristol Rovers in the league, Fifteen away visits, spanning three grounds and spanning almost half a century - last enjoying league success in 1969.

The Gas still harboured faint hopes of a play-off charge, six points adrift of the top six and looking for a response after a disastrous 1-0 reversal at rock-bottom Coventry.

The hosts sat sixth in a home league form table with just three defeats from 20 games all season - including being unbeaten in 10 on home soil - and began in confident mood. Mat Sadler lose touch almost let Luke James in before a succession of corners weren't dealt with in inspiring fashion.

Jayson Leutwiler was called into action to deny skipper Tom Lockyer from one of the deliveries, making a point-blank save.

Town hadn't found their radar but grabbed a foothold 10 minutes in, a sharp break after Billy Bodin had lost possession saw Roberts played in, the West Brom loanee rounded Joe Lumley and pulled back to Dodds, but his low strike was cleared off the line by Ryan Sweeney.

Dodds sent a sweeping effort following a lively Town break into the away crowd as Shrews purred.

Central midfield pair Ollie Clarke and Chris Lines weren't afraid to let fly from distance, a couple flying over and one testing Leutwiler, who kept it out unconvincingly.

The visitors' backline continued to look a little hesitant when faced with balls over the top, summed up by Toto Nsiala belting one over his own goal.

Joe Riley almost carved the hosts open half hour in, his overlap to Whalley was used and a tremendous low cross went right along the six yard line, before Lumley claimed at a second attempt with Roberts lurking.

As things turned into a lull matching the warm spring conditions, things woke up on 40 minutes.

Ryan Yates, who was booked midway through the half for a foul on Bodin where he'd looked to win the ball, was given his marching orders.

The on-loan Nottingham Forest man competed for a ball inside the six yard box after Lumley had appeared to have spilled it.

The youngster's challenge was committed and the hosts took exception, Lee Brown shoving him to the ground and the Memorial Ground up in arms.

Referee Brett Huxtable branded the second yellow, with Brown and others escaping punishment for their reaction, something Chris Doig was not pleased at.

Hurst rolled the dice at the break in light of the sending off and opted for Bryn Morris and Stephen Humphrys for Dodds and Roberts - lining Town up with two banks of four and on-loan Fulham man Humphrys in attack.

With barely any time to settle into a new system, the Gas were handed a free ticket into the lead on 54 minutes, as Toto Nsiala was adjudged to have brought down Bodin, much to Salop's outrage.

Bodin stepped up and sent the spot-kick beyond Leutwiler. Hurst, like away games at Sheffield United, Bolton, Rochdale, Peterborough and Swindon, had reasons to feel robbed.

The lively attacker then found the side-netting moments later as Salop were under the cosh.

The odds were stacked against Town now and with a nervy eye cast towards other scores, they tried to keep the score down without seeing much of the ball.

A handy opening arrived on 65 minutes, Humphrys' header diverted Brown's onto Rodman, who shot straight at Lumley from an angle.

Shrewsbury began seeing more of the ball as the almost 9,500 crowd became edgy as Gas' inability to put Town away.

After a nice move, Whalley rode a number of challenges but shot over from distance.

The second sealed it six minutes from time, just as Stuart Sinclair somehow shot at Leutwiler, an awkward Riley clearance dropped to Bodin, who turned two defenders before finding the corner.

Jermaine Easter and Lines somehow missed for the score to stay at 2-0, which may yet help Shrews' goal difference.

Key moments

4 - A Gas corner is not cleared and the recycled delivery drops to Tom Lockyer a few yards out by somehow Jayson Leutwiler makes the save.

11 - Big chance Louis Dodds. Tyler Roberts rounds Joe Lumley and sets it back for Dodds who sends a low strike goalwards that's cleared on line by Ryan Sweeney.

13 - Dodds sends one over the top as Town burst into life, breaking from the back through Joe Riley, Roberts and Shaun Whalley

40 - Ryan Yates is dismissed for Salop. A second yellow for going in on Joe Lumley while trying to win a loose ball. Gas played showed angry reaction but unpushed. Town down to 10.

54 - Bristol penalty. Bodin brought down by Toto Nsiala, seemed minimal contact, Bodin converts penalty.

56 - Bodin then finds side netting with weaker right foot.

65 - Alex Rodman shoots straight at Joe Lumley from an angle after Stephen Humphrys flick on from Junior Brown's cross.

72 - Whalley rides a couple of a challenges but sends his effort from distance over the top.

83 - Sinclair should make it two moments before Bodin does, shooting tamely at Leutwiler.

84 - Goal Bristol. Joe Riley's unconvincing clearance drops to Bodin, who beats two men before slotting into corner expertly.

Teams

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2):

Lumley; Leadbitter, Lockyer ©, Sweeney, Brown; Bodin, Clarke (Sinclair, 36), Lines, Montano (Moore, 71); James (Easter, 84), Gaffney

Subs not used: Mildenhall (gk), Harrison, Clarke, Clarke-Salter

Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2):

Leutwiler; Riley, Nsiala, Sadler ©, Brown; Whalley (Payne, 78), Deegan, Yates, Rodman; Dodds (Morris, 45), Roberts (Humphrys, 45)

Subs not used: Halstead (gk), Ladapo, El-Abd, Smith.

Goals: Bodin x2.

Attendance: 9,498 (497 Shrewsbury fans)

Referee: Brett Huxtable

Position in the table

21st (43 points from 40 games)