Rovers endured a disappointing afternoon at the Eco-Power Stadium as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Sky Bet League Two high-flyers Northampton Town.
Goals from Mitch Pinnock and Sam Hoskins either side of the break helped the visitors to three points in South Yorkshire.
Head coach Danny Schofield made two changes from Tuesday night’s trip to Crawley Town, with Todd Miller coming in for Kyle Hurst, and Jonathan Mitchell returning to the side after a fortnight out, replacing Simon Moore who returned to Blackpool after his emergency loan.
The game got off to the worst possible start for Rovers who would find themselves a goal down within two minutes.
A corner from the Northampton left was played short to Hoskins who picked the ball up before squaring to Pinnock on the edge of the area.
Pinnock’s shot from 18-yards out managed to find it’s way through a crowd of bodies to put the visitors ahead, leaving Rovers with work to do from the off.
After a fast-paced start to the match from the visitors, it would be until just after the 20-minute mark until the next real chance; Louis Appere putting Joseph Olowu under pressure to get in behind, before seeing his tame effort saved by Mitchell.
Rovers’ first chance came just shy of the half-hour, with a cross from the right from James Brown met in the middle by Caolan Lavery.
Fresh from his first goal for the club in mid-week, Lavery rose well above his man to head on target, but his effort was held well by Cobblers’ stopper Lee Burge.
Rovers started to grow into the game more slightly as the opening half wore on and should have been level just before the interval.
Substitute Hurst, on just a minute before for the injured James Brown, almost got on the end of a Charlie Seaman cross from the right-hand side, only to see the ball fly just wide of the far post.
Rovers began the second half like they’d ended the first, and Miller was next to go close for Schofield’s side as he saw his effort from close range deflected over by Aaron McGowan.
However, their bright start would be in vain as a Mitchell error was capitalised on by one of the league’s danger men.
The Rovers’ stopper’s ball out was intercepted by Hoskins who needed no invitation to fire home his 20th league season from just inside the box.
The game looked to be getting away from Rovers, but the home side would get the next chance, with Hurst looking the most likely to do anything to get them back into it.
He burst down the left and got in behind Cobblers’ defender Harvey Lintott, however his low effort from a tight angle was pounced on by Burge once more.
The visitors were looking to kill the game off as it headed into the final quarter of an hour, with substitute Tete Yengi firing over from close range, before Hoskins sent another effort just wide from the edge of the box in what was a frustrating afternoon for Rovers.
Despite a late glancing header from Tommy Rowe, there would be nothing for the Rovers fans to cheer as they slipped to defeat.
Rovers will look to bounce back next weekend with the visit of Crewe Alexandra to the Eco-Power Stadium in Sky Bet League Two.