Swansea City 2 Bristol Rovers 2

Last updated : 24 March 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Jason Scotland rescued a point for Swansea City as they their maintained their surge towards promotion with a late leveller against Bristol Rovers.

Scotland capped a fine comeback when he curled home an 84th minute stunner to break Rovers' hearts.

Rickie Lambert and Craig Disley had fired Rovers into a two-goal lead and they looked likely to ease past the sluggish Swans, but striker Scotland sparked the comeback before his sensational strike levelled up matters with his 28th goal of the season late on.

Swansea boss Roberto Martinez dismissed fears that the quickfire Easter reunion with Rovers would turn into a grudge match.

A fiery start saw Swans midfielders Darren Pratley and Ferrie Bodde fire just wide, before Rovers took the lead through Lambert's low drive in the 14th minute.

Lambert bulldozed his way through Alan Tate's challenge before finding space to firing past a stationary Dorus De Vries.

Swansea were fortunate not to fall further behind moments later when Steve Elliott's header was beaten out by De Vries, before Danny Coles headed against the post from Stuart Campbell's resulting corner.

Swansea's defence continued to live on a knife-edge and Lambert headed David Pipe's low cross wide from three yards out.

It came as little surprise when Rovers doubled their lead when Disley collected Campbell's clever reverse pass to evade the offside trip to slip the ball under the body of the advancing De Vries in the 36th minute.

Swansea came flying out the blocks after the interval and Scotland reduced the deficit in the 50th minute.

After Leon Britton's shot had been parried by Steve Phillips, Scotland made space fired home the rebound from a tight angle.

Andy Robinson and Tom Butler both came inches away from levelling up matters as the hosts laid siege on the visitors' goal before Scotland struck late on.

Scotland could even have won the game in stoppage time, as he forced Phillips to beat away his fierce drive from an acute angle near the by-line on the left side of the penalty area.