GREAT SCOTT! DOYLE HANDS THE RETURNING BOSS A DREAM START

By Andy Arlidge

CRAWLEY T 1

Doyle 19

CRAWLEY: Lo-Tutala 6, Barker 7, Mullarkey 7, Flint 7, Quitirna 6 (Swan 70, 6), Ibrahim 6 (Anderson 70, 6), Fraser 7, Watson 6 (Camara 56, 6), Kelly 6 (Forster 56, 6), Doyle 7, Hepburn-Murphy 6 (John-Jules 69, 6). Subs not used: Radcliffe.

BRISTOL R 0

BRISTOL ROVERS: Ward 8, Taylor 7, Wilson 6, Butcher 6, Hunt 6, Ward 6 (Sousa 76, 6), Hutchinson 6 (O’Donkor 55, 5), Mola 6 (Swinkels 76, 6), Shaw 6, Thomas 6 (Forde 55, 6), Sinclair 6 (Sawyers 75, 6. Subs not used: Hall, Moore.

Att: 4,421 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Ben Toner 7/10

SCOTT Lindsey enjoyed the perfect homecoming as Kamari Doyle’s goal sunk Bristol Rovers to end Crawley’s eight-game winless run.

Lindsey, back to take the reins after leaving for MK Dons earlier in the season, revealed he felt as if his side were challenging towards the top of the table and not fighting against relegation after downing the Pirates.

Lindsey said: “It felt like it did last year, like we were at the top end of the table and I feel really happy.”

Town are now nine points from safety with eight games left and Lindsey said it was vitally important for them to win the first game. He added: “The biggest one is the first win, I’m here to instil some belief.

“We should have been further ahead by half-time. We can’t change what has happened in the past, but we’ve got eight games to go, eight cup finals, and we have to win as many as we can.

“I’m pleased now to have a whole week to get coaching into them. There is a long way to go and this is a step in the right direction. “

Town grabbed what would be the winner in the 19th minute when a strong run from Rushian Hepburn-Murphy set up Doyle 12 yards out and he picked his spot past helpless keeper Jed Ward.

Doyle should have doubled the lead two minutes later when he shot wide after Hepburn-Murphy set him up again.

Rovers skipper Scott Sinclair dragged an effort wide just after the half-hour mark after breaking through when Josh Flint had given the ball away.

Crawley threatened again a minute from the interval when a goal-bound shot from Hepburn-Murphy was palmed away by Ward.

Crawley midfielder Armando na had a shot saved by Quitir-Ward, before former Reds loanee Isaac Hutchinson tested debutant keeper Thimothèe Lo-Tutala for the first time with a low shot.

Rovers went into the clash short on goalscoring options with Chris Martin and Ruel Sotiriou injured, but boss Inigo Calderon said he could not fault his players despite a sixth loss in their last seven away games. Said the Spaniard: “We have not made the level we should. We have looked a different team to what we have been at home.

“But I am not going to get anybody out and fault them individually – they gave all they could, but were just not there where they should be.”