The hunt for a first league win of the season continues for Rovers after a thoroughly disappointing afternoon against Notts County
A brace from Macauley Langstaff and a Jodi Jones strike put the visitors in full command, with Deji Sotona grabbing his first Rovers goal deep into second half stoppage time.
Grant McCann made two changes to the side that started against Mansfield Town in midweek with Richard Wood and Tyler Roberts returning to the XI.
It took a while for the game to spring into life as both side struggled to maintain meaningful possession in the early stages.
David McGoldrick fired well wide for the visitors while Tyler Roberts did the same at the other end in the only real sights of goal in the opening minutes,
The scrappiness continued, with Roberts scuffing a shot after brilliantly carrying the ball beyond his man into the box.
The visitors took the lead on 28 minutes. Former Rovers midfielder John Bostock sent in a fine cross from the left which Langstaff met on the volley at the near post.
Rovers went straight on the front foot in search of the equaliser with Luke Molyneux surging into the box and forcing County keeper Aidan Stone to tip over the bar.
Joseph Olowu produced a brilliant defensive header to prevent Sam Austin’s cross from reaching Langstaff at the far post.
McCann made three changes at half time in a bid to wrestle Rovers into the game, with Mo Faal, Deji Sotona and George Broadbent heading on.
But inside the first minute of the second period, Rovers fell two goals down as Langstaff ghosted in to head home a cross from Austin six yards out.
Rovers showed some positive signs after conceding the second, enjoying more of the ball in the opposition half than they had previously.
But they fell further behind on 54 minutes. Dan Crowley’s deep cross reached Jones, who set himself and smashed home at the near post.
Langstaff almost secured his hat trick on the hour mark but scuffed his header from McGoldrick’s deflected cross.
And the striker lashed into the sidenetting after bringing down a long diagonal from Magpies skipper Kyle Cameron.
Rovers showed moments of threat but struggled to convert it into dangerous opportunities. Sotona drew a low save from Stone after cutting inside from the right while Ironside failed to trouble the County keeper after breaking clear.
Lawlor produced an excellent save to keep out a fierce effort from Matty Palmer and comfortably dealt with a strike from distance from substitute Jim O’Brien.
Owen Bailey sent a shot from distance straight at the keeper before picking out Faal, who shifted his weight and drew a fine low save from Stone.
Ironside hit the target from close range after meeting a Jack Senior cross before Sotona reduced the deficit. Tommy Rowe surged into the box after robbing the ball before finding the winger who drilled in low.
Rovers: Lawlor, Nixon, Olowu, Wood, Senior, Westbrooke (Broadbent 46), Bailey, Rowe, Molyneux (Faal 46), Ironside, Roberts (Sotona 46). Subs not used: Jones, Faulkner, Maxwell, Straughan-Brown.
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