Bryant Bilongo capped his first EFL appearance with a dramatic late winner to snatch Bristol Rovers a 1-0 victory over Northampton at the Memorial Stadium.

The 22-year-old headed in the winner from close range from a Luke Thomas corner in the first minute of stoppage time to ensure his first game since moving from Middlesbrough ended on a high.

Before the impressive left-back’s intervention, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta was in danger of overshadowing a first outing of the season for Matt Taylor’s side.

Home fans took to taking photographs of the dozens of giant inflatables that serenely made their way across the West Country as the two sides struggled to break the deadlock.

Cobblers goalkeeper Lee Burge foiled another Rovers debutant, Promise Omochere, in the first half with a brilliant low save and then kept out Kamil Conteh and Joel Senior efforts late on before Bilongo had the final say.