Match ends, Crawley Town 1, Bristol Rovers 0.
CrawleyCrawley Town1Bristol RoversBristol Rovers0
Tom Nichols scored the only goal of the game against his former club as Crawley gave boss Kevin Betsy his first win in three attempts with a 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over League One Bristol Rovers.
Betsy made six changes after two successive 1-0 league defeats and the Reds responded with an energetic performance.
Striker Nichols settled the tie 16 minutes from time as Rovers went out of the competition at the first-round stage for the third season in a row.
Rovers boss Joey Barton, who made only one change to his side by recalling defender Alfie Kilgour, went into the game admitting he is currently working with a "very small, tight-knit group".
Striker Aaron Collins forced Crawley goalkeeper Corey Addai into an early save and Harry Anderson's touch was too heavy when fed by Collins shortly afterwards.
Former Rovers striker Nichols was gifted with a chance after James Belshaw failed to gather the ball cleanly, but the keeper recovered to keep out a low shot.
Crawley threatened shortly before the interval when Tony Craig fed Jake Hessenthaler and his cross was volleyed wide by George Francomb.
Addai came to the Reds' rescue in the 49th minute by turning a goal-bound shot from Collins around a post after he was played in by John Marquis.
Sam Finley saw a deflected shot go over for Rovers before Collins had a close-range effort ruled out for offside just after the hour.
Striker Ryan Loft should have done better when heading an Antony Evans cross wide, before Nichols struck to put Crawley ahead.
Nichols raced on to a through ball by Jack Powell and, after having his initial shot blocked by Belshaw, he calmly steered the rebound low into the net.
Substitute Aramide Oteh struck the outside of a post and also fired over from a pass by Nichols as Crawley finished strongly.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Crawley
Formation 3-4-3
- 34Addai
- 15Francillette
- 3ConroySubstituted forJohnsonat 45'minutes
- 5Craig
- 4Francomb
- 39HessenthalerSubstituted forJenksat 90+2'minutes
- 8Powell
- 44Ogungbo
- 21AppiahSubstituted forOtehat 63'minutes
- 10NadesanSubstituted forBalagiziat 84'minutes
- 9Nichols
Substitutes
- 12Ransom
- 20Balagizi
- 23Johnson
- 24Oteh
- 27Khaleel
- 28Jenks
- 35Gallacher
- 40Greensall
Bristol Rovers
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Belshaw
- 30Hoole
- 5KilgourSubstituted forJonesat 89'minutes
- 2Connolly
- 3GordonSubstituted forSaundersat 64'minutes
- 19Anderson
- 21EvansBooked at 45mins
- 6FinleySubstituted forWhelanat 64'minutes
- 10Collins
- 9Marquis
- 18LoftBooked at 89mins
Substitutes
- 22Saunders
- 25Whelan
- 27Greenslade
- 31Ward
- 34Lawrence
- 39Sesay
- 42White
- 43Burden
- 44Jones
- Referee:
- David Rock
- Attendance:
- 1,860
Match Stats
Home TeamCrawleyAway TeamBristol Rovers
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crawley Town 1, Bristol Rovers 0.
Post update
Foul by Aramide Oteh (Crawley Town).
Post update
Ryan Jones (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. Teddy Jenks replaces Jake Hessenthaler.
Post update
Offside, Crawley Town. Jack Powell tries a through ball, but Tom Nichols is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol Rovers. Ryan Jones replaces Alfie Kilgour.
Booking
Ryan Loft (Bristol Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Travis Johnson (Crawley Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Loft (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Attempt missed. James Balagizi (Crawley Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Tom Nichols.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Loft (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
James Balagizi (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. James Balagizi replaces Ashley Nadesan.
Post update
James Connolly (Bristol Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Aramide Oteh (Crawley Town).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jack Powell (Crawley Town) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ashley Nadesan.
Post update
Aramide Oteh (Crawley Town) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Tom Nichols.
Post update
Foul by John Marquis (Bristol Rovers).
Post update
Mazeed Ogungbo (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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