Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Bristol Rovers 4th with 80 points, Hartlepool United 17th with 54, 26 apart. Recent form told a different story for Hartlepool United: only 23rd in the league over the last five rounds despite sitting 17th. Scoring rates set the scale: Bristol Rovers 1.54 scored and 1.07 conceded per game, Hartlepool United 0.96 and 1.39, with the league averaging 1.23.
9 previous meetings sit in the GioScore records — Bristol Rovers 4, draws 3, Hartlepool United 2, at 2.89 goals per meeting. Goals tend to flow: 67% of the meetings produced three or more.
Memorial Stadium staged the fixture, a ground that holds 12,500. It was 0-0 at the break, and the second half added 2 goals for the 2-0 full-time score.
Goal scorers
Bristol Rovers: Aaron Collins (87'), Antony Evans (90')
Key stats
Possession: Bristol Rovers 45% · Hartlepool United 55% · Total shots: 12-11 · On target: 3-3 · Corners: 2-12