Half-time: Accrington Stanley 0 Bristol Rovers 0

Bristol Rovers have made a start in their efforts to address the defensive lethargy that proved so costly at AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night.

Mark McGhee's side trailed by three goals at half-time at Kingsmeadow earlier in the week, here, at the Crown Stadium, today, at least, a clean sheet in the opening 45 minutes offers hope that they will return home with something more than nothing.

The first-half, however, has proved a rather uninspiring affair – with chances for both sides at a premium during what has been a slow start to the afternoon.
Accrington can boast the better of what sparse chances there have been with defender Peter Murphy left holding head in hands when directing a close-range header over the crossbar from a corner when he should have done better.

Striker Padraig Amond also steered a shot across goal and wide of the post when finding himself in behind the Rovers' back four on a rare occasion, while skipper Luke Joyce failed to trouble goalkeeper Neil Etheridge when trying his luck from distance.

Rovers, meanwhile, have been disciplined in terms of shape whilst at the same time neat and tidy – but attacking threat has been limited with only pot shots from Tom Eaves and Eliot Richards to show for their efforts.  

McGhee had made two forced changes from the side that started at Kingsmeadow on Tuesday night.

Tom Parkes serves a suspension after being sent off earlier in the week and was replaced at the heart of defence by Jim Paterson, which offered Lee Brown and opportunity to start at left-back.

Adam Virgo did not travel because of a sore knee, but Fabian Broghammer returned to the team after recovering from concussion. Derek Riordan started amongst the substitutes after missing the last three games with a hamstring complaint and is expected to feature at some point during the second-half. 

Rovers: Etheridge; Lund, Kenneth, Paterson, L Brown; W Brown, Clarkson, Norburn, Broghammer; Eaves, Richards. Subs: Anyinsah, Harrison, Clarke, Clucas, Riordan, Walker, Lockyear.  

Accrington Stanley: Dunbavin, Winnard, Liddle, Atkinson, Murphy, Miller, Joyce, Boco, Molyneux, Hatfield, Amond. Subs: Dawber, Nsiala, Dixon, Lindfield, Osawe, Mingoia, Sampson. 

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