By Tobago Gas
August 1 2002

The Baggies were taught a bit of a footballing lesson by the Pirates as they came away with a 3-2 defeat by a Rovers side that impressed the home crowd with their neat and effective passing. Rovers started the match well with Astafjevs testing Jensen, the Baggies 'keeper with a 30-yard drive. The crowd of over 4000 had to wait until the 40th minute before seeing a goal. Guiliano Grazioli spun around defender Darren Moore before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Jensen to drive the Memorial Stadium wild. Although it appeared that Grazioli may have used his hand whilst creating his goalscoring oppurtunity, the linesman and the referee controversially did not give the call.
Grazioli then put the Pirates 2-0 ahead with a well placed header from a Wayne Carlisle cross after outjumping James Chambers.

Former Manchester United utility player Ronnie Wallwork cut the deficit in half in the 74th minute with a well placed shot from just outside the 18-yard box before Danny Dichio clinched the equaliser just two minutes later with an atrociously free header from an Igor Balis corner.
David Gilroy, the Rovers substitute who had earlier replaced goalscoring hero Grazioli grabbed himself the match winner with a cool finish after a mistake by new signing Ronnie Wallwork for his 3rd goal of the pre season.

Bristol Rovers next test is an away match to face Forest Green Rovers.

For official club site reports :

Bristol Rovers : http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/today/view/breaking_news_detail/0,,10328~246685,00.html

West Bromwich Albion : http://www.wba.co.uk/today/view/breaking_news_detail/0,,10366~246701,00.html

For official club site manager reactions :

Bristol Rovers : http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/today/view/breaking_news_detail/0,,10328~246725,00.html

West Bromwich Albion
http://www.wba.co.uk/today/view/breaking_news_detail/0,,10366~246776,00.html

Attendance : 4063(487 away fans)

Teams : Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Howie; Boxall, Uddin, Barrett, Challis; Carlisle, Quinn, Bryant (Astefjevs 71), Astafjevs (McKeever HT); Tait, Grazioli (Gilroy 75). Subs not used: Clarke, Hogg, Richards, Shore, Scott, Gall.

West Bromwich Albion (3-5-2): Jensen; Wallwork, Moore, Clement; Balis, A Chambers (Sigurdsson HT), McInnes, Johnson, J Chambers; Dichio, Dobie (Roberts HT). Subs not used: Hoult, Murphy, Taylor, Dyer, Jordao.