Bristol Rovers 3-0 Cheltenham Town Recap: Tyler Smith fired Gas into the second round of the Carabao Cup

 Tyler Smith celebrates scoring second and Rovers against Cheltenham (Image: Ryan Hiscott / JMP

Tyler Smith ended Bristol Rovers' 218-minute defeat midway through the first half to put Gas on course for the second round of the Carabao Cup.

The striker, who started his first for the club after joining on loan from Sheffield United this summer, followed like all good strikers, to be in the right place to restore the rebound from Cheltenham Town goalkeeper Scott Flinders after the stopper failed to hold on to long-range efforts Kyle Bennett.

Last season Rovers reached the second round of the EFL Cup, defeating Crawley Town 2-1 in the first round before withdrawing from the QPR Championship team, losing 3-1 at Loftus Road. They will have the chance to go at least one better in 2019/20 after running out of comfortable 3-0 winners at the Memorial Stadium.

Manager Graham Coughlan made five changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday with Jonson Clarke-Harris giving his first start of the season after recovering from key hole surgery in his lower abdomen. The striker is a substitute on Saturday.

Alfie Kilgour, Josh Hare, and Tyler Smith were all given their first start of the season, the latest after overcoming a virus that ruled out its deadlock with Chairboys. There were clearly no signs of adverse effects on Tuesday night.

Kyle Bennett also returned to the fold to play at the end of the diamond in Rovers' midfield and he looked excited.

Before setting up the opening goal of the match, the former Pompey player who was sent on loan to Swindon Town for the second half of last season, was rejected by a fine, if somewhat lucky, quits Finders, who was saved at Bennett's feet after the midfielder was played by Clarke-Harris.

It was a far better performance by Gas with captain Ollie Clarke looking his best, playing a killer ball to Smith at the start of the match, and then the ball over to Clarke-Harris at the start of the match. On both occasions the striker's first touch disappointed them, but it was a creative game that had been asked by the team since the beginning of the new campaign.

Clarke-Harris had some clear views about the goal in the first half and looked rusty at times but he continued to prove his value to the side, whipping a dangerous cross and playing around him as a target man's side.

It was a marked improvement from his performance from the bench just four days ago and bodes well for his return to face his former team at Coventry City last Saturday in League One. .

Small and big pairs from Smith and Clarke-Harris worked well, and Smith, who doubled the lead just three minutes after the break, ran to the pinpoint ball through Clarke.

Even though matchball is being fought over, in the 66th minute Tyler became the provider. Bennett plays it on the right side of the 18-yard box and despite being in his right to test Flinders, he passes to Clarke-Harris who is in a better position to slip the ball in from close range.

There were plenty of opportunities at the end of the half for the hosts, but it completed a comfortable 3-0 win and a clean sheet for Rovers.

Next Graham Coughlan faces Brighton

While there are some on the Bristol blue side who are upset to see Bristol City knocked out in the first round of the EFL Cup, Rovers' winning manager Graham Coughlan said he would like the opportunity to lead his team to victory over their fierce rivals.

Loading...

Subscribe to receive free email updates: