Salford squander last-gasp penalty as Bristol Rovers hold on for victory

Salford skipper Luke Garbutt missed a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Bristol Rovers stunned their high-flying visitors with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory at the Memorial Stadium.

Garbutt saw his spot-kick saved by goalkeeper Luke Southwood at the end of a topsy-turvy contest as goals from Ellis Harrison and Fabrizio Cavegn denied Salford the chance to move to the League Two summit.

Salford midfielder Matt Butcher, who spent the second half of last season with the Gas, on loan from Wycombe, came back to haunt the west country club when he put the visitors in front after 11 minutes with a classy left-footed strike from 20 yards.

Karl Robinson’s team, aiming for a fourth straight win, dominated, but Rovers dug in and Harrison levelled two minutes into first-half stoppage time, tapping home from close range after Southwood’s free-kick was nodded into the striker’s path by skipper Alfie Kilgour.

Rovers, looking to extend a seven-match unbeaten run, gained the upper hand after the break after manager Darrell Clarke replaced centre-back Taylor Moore with midfielder Kamil Conteh, moving to a four-man defence.

That formation change soon paid dividends and Rovers took the lead in the 63rd minute when Cavegn got the better of defender Adebola Oluwo before slotting the ball through the legs of 18-year-old goalkeeper Matt Young, on loan from Sunderland.

Southwood saved the best till last, getting down well to his right to deny Garbutt after Luke Thomas had fouled fellow substitute Jorge Grant, while Salford had Haji Mnoga sent off at the death.