Bristol Rovers 1-4 Tranmere Rovers
Sky Bet League Two, The Memorial Stadium, Saturday 18 October 2025
Bristol Rovers fell to a 4-1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers in Sky Bet League Two at The Memorial Stadium.
The visitors took the lead in the first half through a flicked header from Nathan Smith, which found its way past Luke Southwood in the Rovers' net.
The Gas could not find their way into the contest after the restart and conceded three times. Connor Jennings netted twice, flicking a header over Luke Southwood before thumping in from close range, before Josh Davison scored Tranmere's fourth just over ten minutes from the end.
Alfie Chang got one back for the Pirates, but Darrell Clarke's men could not find the back of the net again and fell to a second straight defeat at The Mem.
Tranmere started the game strongly, and Macauley Southam-Hales denied Joe Ironside with a fantastic block in his own box. Soon after, the away side were in again, with Charlie Whittaker forcing an early save from Luke Southwood with a driven volley.
Alfie Kilgour headed narrowly wide from Jack Sparkes' corner before the Super White Army gained the lead. Omari Patrick collected the ball on the left and whipped a cross towards Smith, who directed a header across the goal and into the bottom right corner.
Ruel Sotiriou replaced Ellis Harrison in the first half due to injury, and he saw an effort palmed away by Joe Murphy as Rovers searched for an equaliser.
The inform Fabrizio Cavegn had a half chance from the edge of the box, which was blazed over just before half-time. Jennings doubled Tranmere’s lead early in the second half, latching onto Aaron McGowan's cross and looping a header over the oncoming Southwood, who could not get back quickly enough to stop the ball from going over the line.
Omari Patrick nearly added a third for the visitors as he went close with a powerful header before Jennings did get his second and Tranmere’s third, finishing off a rebounded shot from Patrick.
The visitors added their fourth towards the end of the match. Jennings went from scorer to assister, driving a low cross towards Davison to convert from close range.
Chang got a late consolation goal with a volley deflected past Joe Murphy in goal, the hard work coming from Shaq Forde, who looked dangerous on his return from a spell on the sidelines through injury.
However, Rovers could not build on their goal and fell to a third defeat in Sky Bet League Two, with the Gas now looking to bounce back next week when they travel to Crawley Town.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Sparkes (Bilongo 58) Kilgour, Thomas, Harrison (Sotiriou 24), McEachran, Conteh (Forde 58), Southam-Hales, Chang, Cavegn, Lopata
Goals: Chang
Booked: Harrison, Kilgour
Subs not used: Young, Negru, Howley, Dewsbury
Tranmere Rovers: Murphy, Norman (Smallwood 83), Brough, Smith, Whitaker, Finley (Kenneh 68), Patrick, Jennings (Solomon 83), Blacker (Joseph 83), Ironside (Davison 45), Mcgowan
Goals: Smith, Jennings X2, Davison
Booked: Davison, Patrick
Subs not used: Barret, Harris
Officials: Thomas Parsons
Attendance: 7835 (586 away)
