Bristol Rovers 0 Wrexham 3

Last updated : 23 November 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Two strikes by Andy Morrell had this one wrapped up for Wrexham before half time.

With a little help from a hapless Rovers defence he buried a header and a right foot shot.

Home fans who chanted, "What a load of rubbish" saw their team off to a chorus of frustrated boos.

Rovers chairman Geoff Dunford has promised to bring in at least two experienced players to stem a crisis which has seen his side lose their last six league games. Naive defending early on saw them fail to defend a throw-in by Carlos Edwards, turned back by Andy Morrell for Lee Trundle to whistle a shot past the left-hand post.

These three went on to tear the heart out of a Rovers side who never looked like containing the pace of Edwards who defended almost as stoutly as he drove his attack forward.

Trundle drew a one-handed save from Scott Howie in Wrexham's next attack but it was his partner Morrell who made the breakthrough with a powerful glancing header as he reached Paul Edwards' cross from the left.

Skipper Adam Barrett fought almost alone to keep the Rovers in the game with a series of solid tackles but then gifted Wrexham their next goal.

He nodded straight down to Morrell and the pathway was open for the striker to race through 20 yards before picking his spot to claim his 16th goal this season with a finish wide of the keeper's left hand.

Rovers have now gone 468 minutes without a League or Cup goal and their only shot on target - a tame affair early in the second half - was put in by their Latvian international Vitalijs Astafjevs.

Their left back Trevor Challis picked up his sixth yellow card of the season when he flattened Carlos Edwards before Trundle put the result beyond all doubt in the 74th minute.

Cheekily chipping the ball up he strode past Barrett before driving his shot calmly into the far corner.

Wrexham manager Denis Smith said: "It was an excellent result which didn't flatter us in any way. Now we've got to take this form to our home matches. If Rovers want to buy, all our players are up for sale as we have no money."