Joe Pritchard scored a vital goal as Accrington Stanley celebrated back-to-back wins with a 1-0 victory at Bristol Rovers.
Pritchard headed home Sean McConville’s cross, after the winger had twisted and turned in the area, on 54 minutes.
Stanley created the better chances and piled more misery on Joey Barton’s side, who are in the relegation places at this early stage of the season.
John Coleman named the same XI which overcame Cheltenham last week and they began on the front foot, McConville having a good early effort in his 401st appearance for the Reds.
Tommy Leigh had a header on the turn which was straight into keeper James Belshaw’s hands while Pritchard, on 11 minutes, was put clean through by Leigh but he couldn’t connect properly with the ball.
Rovers’ Aaron Collins dragged a strike wide and the home side put a couple of dangerous balls into the box but Stanley continued to press and, with keeper Belshaw stranded, Pritchard played a ball into the box but the Rovers defence managed to clear before Leigh could capitalise on the empty goal.
A Collins ball in was cleared on the line for the Gas as the game went from end to end with McConville appealing for handball in the area from his own blistering shot on 40 minutes.
Pritchard had another chance but his strike was blocked while, at the other end, a vital interception from Harvey Rodgers in the six yard box stopped a clean strike on goal for Rovers.
Collins wasn’t too far off on the stroke of half-time as the home side created a number of chances towards the end of the half.
In the second half, Ryan Loft fired wide of post from distance while Mitch Clark tried his luck from long range for the Reds but Belshaw collected the ball.
Then came the all-important goal as McConville’s clip found the head of Pritchard for his second goal of the campaign.
Stanley continued to press without testing the Rovers keeper while, with 15 minutes to go, Lukas Jensen made a couple of routine saves as the home side looked for the equaliser.
The Reds, meanwhile, were on the hunt for a second and Leigh’s strike was deflected off-target and Astley headed over the bar.
Rovers came close when a Collins strike hit the post on 82 minutes and the Reds survived a late goalmouth scramble to return to the Wham Stadium with a welcome three points.
Stanley: Jensen, Clark, Astley, Tharme, Rodgers, Whalley (Hamilton) Coyle, Conneely (Martin), McConville, Pritchard, Leigh (Sangare)
Subs: Savin, Delfounso, Sloane, Fernandes
Yellow: Astley, McConville, Rodgers