GOALS from Blackburn Rovers forward Micah Evans and Burnley defender Kevin Long gave Accrington Stanley their first win in seven games this afternoon.

Evans put Stanley ahead five minutes into his Football League debut when he surged into the box and hammered a low shot past keeper Scott Bevan at the near post.

Fellow loanee Long then doubled the Reds’ lead 30 minutes into the League Two encounter as he found the top corner with a superb volley from Luke Joyce’s deep free kick.

Joe Anyinsah pulled a goal back three minutes after half time when he converted a cross from Mustapha Carayol but Bristol Rovers could not turn second-half pressure into an equaliser.

Peter Murphy was sent off deep into stoppage time for what was deemed to be a cynical tackle on Carayol.

Stanley: Ian Dunbavin (Sean Murdoch 14); Peter Murphy, Dean Winnard, Kevin Long, Kevin McIntyre; Luke Joyce, Bryan Hughes; Micah Evans, Charlie Barnett, Danny Coid; Padraig Amond (Jayden Stockley 61). Subs not used: Tom Bender, Leam Richardson, Craig Lindfield.

Bristol Rovers: Scott Bevan; Danny Woodards, Cian Bolger, Gary Sawyer, Lee Brown; Joe Anyinsah, Craig Stanley, Stuart Campbell, Mustapha Carayol; Matt Harrold, Scott McGleish (Chris Zebroski 79). Subs not used: Eliot Richards, Byron Anthony, Oliver Norburn, Scott Rendell.

Referee: Colin Webster.

Attendance: 1,643.