Portsmouth 1-0 Bristol Rovers: Pirates relegated to League Two

Ronan Curtis scores the goal that relegated Bristol Rovers to League Two

Bristol Rovers have been relegated from League One after being beaten at play-off hopefuls Portsmouth.

Joey Barton's side needed to win at Fratton Park to stand any chance of keeping their hopes of survival alive.

However, Ronan Curtis slotted home the only goal of the game on the counter attack in the first half to secure victory for Pompey.

The Pirates registered more efforts on goal than their hosts but were unable to find a breakthrough.

It meant they slipped to a third straight defeat without scoring, and their eighth loss in their past 10 games.

The goal that earned Pompey their first win in five matches came when goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray caught the ball at a corner before starting an attack which ended with Curtis stroking his shot into the net from George Byers' subtle pass.

On the stroke of half-time home defender Rasmus Nicolaisen had to clear the ball away from under his own crossbar as Rovers pushed for an equaliser.

The visitors were restricted to long-range shots on goal in the second half and Curtis should have sealed the win 11 minutes from time.

Andy Cannon released him with a defence-splitting pass but the Republic of Ireland international could only steer his effort wide.

Portsmouth's win left them seventh in the table after the rest of Saturday's games, level on points with Oxford and Blackpool, and only outside the play-off places on goal difference.

A season to forget for Rovers

Rovers' relegation, after five seasons back in the third tier, caps off a miserable season which has seen the Gas go through three managers and win just 10 League One matches.

Current manager Barton pulled no punches after Tuesday's loss at Milton Keynes Dons all but opened the trapdoor to the fourth tier, saying his side should be embarrassed and had "gone down with a whimper".

Barton, who joined the club in February, laid the blame for Rovers' demise firmly at the door of his predecessors as he publicly criticised their training methods and player acquisitions.

Rovers began the season under Ben Garner, but he was sacked in mid-November after registering just three wins in 11 games.

Former MK Dons and Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale succeeded him, but he lasted less than three months before being sacked after a run of one win in 12 games from Boxing Day until his departure in mid-February.

Rovers' main problem has been a lack of goals - only fellow strugglers Northampton Town have scored fewer than their 40 goals in 44 League One games - and defender Luke Leahy is their top scorer with eight in the league.

Club president Wael al-Qadi re-affirmed he and his family's commitment to the club in an open latter to fans earlier this week and Barton has vowed to overhaul his squad in the summer.

Rovers fans will be hopeful that they will be able to watch a team at the top end of League Two in person next season, having had to watch a poor League One side from afar this campaign because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Barton focuses on Rovers rebuild

Former Fleetwood boss Barton said Rovers deserved to go down and must now rebuild over the summer.

"There is no God-given right to go down and come straight back up so we have a real scrap on our hands because nobody wants to be in League Two," he said.

"It is about how we respond to it and the hard work starts now.

"I cannot fault the efforts of the players today because Pompey have had one shot on target and won the game.

"It is not just about effort. It is about quality and unfortunately for us we have not got enough of that in the building."