SWINDON Town and Bristol Rovers are locked at 0-0 at half-time in today’s League Two game at the County Ground.
Town have enjoyed the majority of possession and have created the most chances, with Alan Connell, Matt Ritchie and Ronan Murray all going close.
Connell had by far the best chance of the half on 40 minutes but could only poke Ritchie’s driven cross against the bar, having taken a touch to steady himself.
Wide-men Ritchie and Lee Holmes are much more involved than they were in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final defeat to Chesterfield at Wembley last week, with Town getting the ball wide at every opportunity.
The visitors have offered little going forward and Di Canio’s side have always been in control, although Chris Zebroski and Matt Harrold look dangerous at set pieces.
Here are the key moments from the first half.
3 mins: Jonathan Smith has the game’s first chance after superb work down the right from Matt Ritchie, but the midfielder shoots straight at Scott Bevan.
11 mins: Jim Paterson is booked for a foul on Matt Ritchie, which forces the Town playmaker to be receive treatment before returning to the field.
15mins: Alan Connell wriggles free in the box, and a superb first touch gives him room to shoot but his effort is straight at the keeper.
21mins: Ritchie’s long range effort is charged down, but Ronan Murray knicks the bouncing ball but can’t find Connell with his cross.
27 mins: Town win a flurry of corners, but they come to nothing.
28 mins: Ritchie gets through on goal but shoots over the bar. The winger’s shot looks to have taken a deflection but referee Kevin Friend gives a goal kick.
31mins: Chris Zebroski gets his head to a Rovers corner, but the effort is straight at Town keeper Wes Foderingham.
36mins: Neat touches from Ritchie see him lift the ball over the head of Matt Gill, and Murray picks up the loose ball but fires over.
40mins: Town’s biggest chance of the half comes and goes, as Ritchie drills the ball across the box and finds the feet of Connell. The striker takes a touch before poking the ball against the underside of the bar, but it does not cross the line.
42mins: Ritchie fires straight at Bevan.
46mins: Holmes and Jay McEveley work the ball short from corner, and Joe Devera meets the Barnsley loanee's cross but can only put it over the bar.
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