Match 09
14th September 2002
Bristol Rovers (away)

Bristol Rovers 1-1 Exeter City 

Kevin Miller's 52nd-minute penalty save earned Exeter a deserved draw in a hard-fought West Country derby at Bristol Rovers.

Miller atoned for his own error in bringing down Paul Tait by diving to his left to smother Giuliano Grazioli's low spot-kick.

Steve Flack had shot Exeter ahead from eight yards after 27 minutes, with Tait heading the equaliser from a free-kick 12 minutes later.

It was Miller's lucky day as two more second-half mistakes went unpunished.

He fumbled a free-kick from Vitalijs Astafjevs around the post and made a smart recovery to deny substitute Lewis Hogg after a poor punch.

Exeter went close through Flack and Andy Roscoe in a second half of chances at both ends.

Grazioli volleyed over in the closing stages for Rovers, leaving them with just one win from eight games, while there were six bookings, three for each side, in a wholehearted scrap.

Bristol Rovers: Howie, Boxall, Uddin, Barrett, Challis, Carlisle, Quinn, Bryant, Astafjevs, Tait, Grazioli. Subs: Clarke, McKeever, Richards, Hogg, Warren.

Exeter: Miller, McConnell, Power, Curran, Gaia, Roscoe, Thomas, Cronin, Walker, Coppinger, Flack. Subs: Fraser, Whitworth, Ampadu, Harries, Breslan.

Referee: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).

Attendance 6498

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