Marquis penalty sees Bristol Rovers down in-form Charlton
John Marquis scored a 71st-minute penalty as Bristol Rovers won at home for the first time in eight games after beating Charlton 1-0 at the Memorial Stadium.
The striker came off the bench in the 65th minute, replacing Josh Coburn, and six minutes later he took the spot-kick awarded for Charlton captain George Dobson handling in the area that stopped Pirates midfielder Lamare Bogarde’s burst into the box.
It was one of few chances created by either side, as Joey Barton’s team were shot-shy following a break of 20 days since their last competitive game, and the in-form Addicks unable to keep a five-game unbeaten run going.
Charlton did, however, threaten twice through 19-year-old forward Miles Leaburn, who almost converted crosses from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Tyreece Campbell in either half, while visiting substitute Daniel Kanu could not convert a good chance with a minute of regulation time left to play.
Rovers defender Lewis Gibson also cleared off the line in injury time to stop Leaburn’s header going in and to preserve a second clean sheet in the Pirates’ last four home matches.