Bristol Rovers ease their relegation worries and end Barnsley’s good run

Bristol Rovers manager Inigo Calderon celebrated a home victory for the first time as the Gas secured a 3-1 win over in-form Barnsley at The Memorial Stadium.

Goals from Gatlin O’Donkor, Isaac Hutchinson and substitute Ruel Sotiriou were enough to bolster Rovers’ fight against relegation and dent the Tykes’ hopes of promotion from Sky Bet League One.

Barnsley paid for not making early superiority pay as Gas goalkeeper Josh Griffiths twice denied Max Watters and then Davis Keillor-Dunn while Mael De Gevigney headed wide.

Tykes goalkeeper Ben Killip was also in impressive form, pulling off fine saves to thwart Hutchinson’s long-distance drive and O’Donkor’s close-range effort.

On-loan Oxford striker O’Donkor finally broke the deadlock in the 41st minute, moments after Scott Sinclair’s cross grazed the crossbar, heading in Grant Ward’s near-post cross.

Rovers strengthened their grip on the contest in the 52nd minute when centre-back James Wilson burst through Barnsley’s defence and after Killip blocked he squared for Hutchinson to tap in.

Chances came and went for dominant Barnsley before Earl rose highest to nod in Corey O’Keefe’s free-kick in the 65th minute to set up a tense finale as Rovers dug in to secure back-to-back league wins.

Sotirou eased the pressure when he slotted home Wilson’s cross to leave Calderon jumping for joy.