Bristol Rovers vs Portsmouth. Sky Bet League One.
The Memorial StadiumAttendance9,073.
Wednesday 22 August 2018 07:29, UK
Bristol Rovers substitute Chris Lines went from hero to villain in the space of two minutes as Portsmouth made it maximum points from four League One game with a 2-1 win at the Memorial Stadium.
On 76 minutes the midfielder coolly netted an equaliser from the penalty spot with a low shot after Ronan Curtis had handled when trying to clear a corner.
Two minutes later Lines went in with studs showing on Pompey sub Brett Pitman and was shown a straight red card by referee Graham Salisbury.
Portsmouth capitalised on their man advantage on 87 minutes when Curtis netted the winner with a shot on the turn from ten yards.
The visitors had taken a 32nd minute lead when Curtis headed the ball into the path of Gareth Evans, who finished with a crunching left-footed volley from left corner of the box.
The result was tough on Rovers and, in the closing stages, their midfielder Kyle Bennett was denied by a brilliant Craig MacGillivray save.
