Bristol Rovers 0-3 Swindon Town
Sky Bet League Two, The Memorial Stadium, Saturday 13 December 2025
Bristol Rovers fell to a 3-0 defeat to Swindon Town at The Memorial Stadium in Sky Bet League Two.
The Robins took the lead through Joe Snowdon, who drove a powerful first-time effort from the edge of the box beyond the reach of Luke Southwood.
The hosts looked to respond, but Swindon doubled their lead through Ollie Clarke, with the former Rovers player flicking Finley Munroe's corner across the goal and into the back of the net. Aaron Drinan then added a third for the visitors with a curling strike before Kacper Lopata was sent off for the Gas after making a late challenge on Gavin Kilkenny.
The Robins then went down to ten men themselves in the second half. Drianan, who was booked in the first half, was given a second yellow card after being deemed to have dived inside the box. Rovers looked brighter after the break, but Swindon retained their three-goal lead to secure all of the points.
The Memorial Stadium had an electric atmosphere at the start of the West County derby, with the two teams meeting in the league for the first time since 2022.
The Pirates pressed high in the opening exchanges, but chances were few and far between, with Alfie Chang shooting wide from the edge of the box before the visitors gained the lead. Ollie Clarke's close-range shot was bravely blocked out for a corner by Kamil Conteh, but the following set-piece was only cleared as far as Snowdon, who drilled an impressive first-time strike into the bottom corner.
Swindon then doubled their advantage through Clarke. The Robins' captain, who previously represented the Gas, latched onto Munroe's cross and planted his downward header past Southwood.
Ian Holloway's men then added their third goal five minutes later. Snowdon turned provider, slotting the ball across to Drinan, who whipped his shot across the goal and into the corner to give Swindon a comfortable lead.
Moments later, a red card for Kacper Lopata gave the Gas a mountain to climb. With the ball loose in Rovers' half, the centre-back made a late tackle on Kilkenny, with referee Aaron Bannister immediately showing a red card.
Rovers made a triple change at the break, but the chances kept coming for Swindon. Efforts from Gavin Kilkenny and James Ball flew above the post, and a right-footed shot from the centre of the box from Ollie Palmer was sent flying into Luke Southwood’s gloves.
The Robins had all the momentum, but their man advantage was removed when Drinan was shown a second yellow card for a dive inside the box. Clear opportunities became more difficult to come by, with the score remaining as it did at half-time. Kilkenny forced a save out of Southwood, and Snowdon had a shot blocked. For Rovers, Chang saw his attempt deflect wide, and Morton directed his attempt wide of the right post.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Kilgour © (Howley 76), Mola, Forde (Moore 46), Sotiriou (Sparkes 46), Lockyer, Cotterill (Dewsbury 65), Conteh, Chang, Cavegn (Morton 46), Łopata
Subs not used: Young, Thomas
Booked: Forde
Red: Łopata
Swindon Town: Ripley, Mabete (Oldaker 68), Ball (Tabor 80), Nichols (Bodin 77), Clarke ©, Kilkenny, Snowdon (McGregor 77), Knight-Lebel, Drinan, Munroe, Palmer (Glatzel 68)
Subs not used: Ward, Wright, Tabor
Goals: Snowdon, Clarke, Drinan
Booked: Drinan
Red: Drinan
Referee: Aaron Bannister
Attendance: 8728 (1601 away)
