Salford City 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Sky Bet League Two, Peninsula Stadium, Saturday 24 January 2026
Bristol Rovers fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium after Ryan Graydon's early strike.
The hosts started the game strongly, finding their way in behind the Rovers' backline on multiple occasions in the opening minutes, which would lead to their opener as Graydon slipped through the defence and finished coolly past Brad Young.
A tightly fought second half saw chances fall for both sides, but the Ammies continued to have the better of them. Kallum Cesay and Graydon had clear chances on goal, but neither could find a second to double their advantage.
The Pirates fought until the end, substitutes Ellis Harrison and debutant Yusuf Akamrich were bright, but neither could find an equaliser as the hosts took all three points on a cold Saturday afternoon.
The first opportunity of the game fell for the hosts as Kelly N’mai found himself in behind, but his shot was rushed and went way over Young’s goal. However, Karl Robinson's men kept the pressure on and broke the deadlock inside eight minutes.
Graydon got onto N’mai's pass through the heart of the Gas' defence and raced one-on-one with Young before finishing clinically beyond the 23-year-old.
Rovers looked for a quick response as Shaq Forde got on the ball outside the box, firing one over after a clearance landed at his feet. The Ammies, who had won six of their last eight matches in Sky Bet League Two, then went searching for their second of the contest.
Kofi Balmer got caught in possession, and Salford pounced, moving the ball quickly before squaring to goalscorer Graydon, but he was unable to convert, forcing a great save out of Young from close range.
Forde continued to look bright in the blue-and-white quarters, picking up the ball in dangerous areas and testing the Salford defence. Ryan de Haviland flicked the ball over an onrushing Salford defender and then saw his volley deflected behind for a corner.
A triple substitution at half-time saw Rovers adapt to a three at the back shape in order to match up to the home side's formation as the Gas looked to get back into the game. Jack Sparkes and Fabrizio Cavegn combined well down the left-hand side before De Haviland saw his shot from distance blocked and sent out for a corner.
Salford almost doubled their advantage as Kallum Cesay spun away from Jack Sparkes before unleashing an effort that Young is just able to turn around the post. The Ammies came so close to doubling their lead with a towering header from Graydon following a corner as the hosts looked to secure the points.
Rovers improved in the attack in the second half, with Harrison adding height and physicality, but Steve Evans' men struggled to create any meaningful chances. Instead, Salford continued to push into the Pirates' defensive third.
Luke Garbutt and Ben Woodburn both had efforts go close in the final few minutes. Rovers kept pushing, and debutant Akamrich looked bright with a couple of nice touches getting away from Salford defenders, but the Gas couldn’t find the equaliser they were looking for as the hosts took all three points.
Salford City: Young, Turton, Grant (Ashley 83), Nmai, Cooper, Austerfield (Longelo 70), Mnoga (Woodburn 70), Cesay (Butcher 83), Udoh, Graydon, Garbutt
Subs not used: Howard, Berkoe, Siri
Bookings: Garbutt, Mnoga
Goals: Graydon
Bristol Rovers: Young, Sparkes, Kilgour (Lockyer 45), Forde (Akamrich 69), Hutchinson (Senior 45), Thomas (Harrison 45), Thompson-Sommers (Conteh 78), De Haviland, Balmer, Harbottle, Cavegn
Subs not used: Southwood, Moore
Referee: Simon Mather
Attendance: 3034 (805 away)
