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Bristol Rovers clinched a vital three points in their fight against relegation as they beat fellow strugglers Scunthorpe United 1-0.

Rovers made the most of the chances that came their way during a period of pressure, with Jonson Clarke-Harris’ first-half goal proving enough to give them the victory, thanks in part to a rock solid second half performance by their defence.

It was the Gas' first victory at Scunthorpe United in 10 years and sees them move out of the bottom four of League One.

The Gas made two changes from the side that lost to Sunderland in midweek, with Abu Ogogo returning in place of Stuart Sinclair and Michael Kelly replacing the injured Tareiq Holmes-Dennis.

Scunthorpe got off to the better start, with lively winger Adam Hammill making the most of some space offered to him to curl a dangerous shot at goal that Jack Bonham could only parry, with the rebound bouncing narrowly wide.

Tom Lockyer then made a hash of clearing a cross, allowing Hammill another effort, but the winger could only fire over from 12 yards.

The Gas grew into the game and Clarke-Harris’ intelligent hold-up play won them plenty of possession around the edge of the area, but they were unable to create any clear cut chances until Kelly drove over from 20 yards in the 17 minute.

At the other end, Scunthorpe striker Kevin van Veen robbed defender Tony Craig of possession and broke towards goal, but his dipping effort from outside the box bounced just wide of goal.

Rovers began to see more and more of the ball and they almost took the lead in the 31 minute when Tom Nichols’ cross to the far post found Liam Sercombe, who shifted the ball onto his favoured left foot before firing in a shot that bounced back into play off the post.

Yet the Gas did not have to wait too much longer to take the lead, as Ollie Clarke and Nichols combined with some nice build-up play in the 34 minute to tee up Clarke-Harris inside the box and he produced a low finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

The rest of the half was a low-key affair as the Gas saw things out in relative comfort.

Scunthorpe started the second half on the front foot but the Gas had a brilliant chance to double their lead 10 minutes after the break when Clarke-Harris teed up Ollie Clarke on the counter-attack, but the midfielder fired over from just inside the box when he had acres of space and plenty of time.

At the other end, Kyle Wootton headed a corner over before van Veen volleyed a brilliant chance over after Tom Pearce’s great cross had found him unmarked 10 yards from goal.

Yet the Gas continued to hold firm as Scunthorpe controlled possession, with their shape proving very difficult to break down.

And when the hosts were able to get into the final third, their balls into the box were continually thwarted by Bonham, who collected every loose ball that came his way.

They ended up seeing the game out superbly, snuffing out any Scunthorpe attack that came their way to secure a big three points.

Scunthorpe United: Alnwick, McMahon, Ojo, van Veen, Perch (Olomola, 76), Pearce, Burgess, Sutton, McArdle, Wootton (Novak, 68), Hammill (Thomas, 46). Subs (not used): Flatt, Webster, Lewis, McGahey.

Bristol Rovers: Bonham; J Clarke, Lockyer, Craig, Kelly; O Clarke, Ogogo, Upson, Sercombe (Sinclair, 76); Nichols (Jakubiak, 66), Clarke-Harris. Subs (not used): Smith, Lines, Reilly, Matthews, Kilgour.