By Mikey Hale

Spoils are shared at Memorial Stadium

Town were held to a goalless draw away at Bristol Rovers.

Kieran McKenna made four changes from the previous Saturday's draw against Sheffield Wednesday, with Janoi Donacien, Sone Aluko, Marcus Harness and Freddie Ladapo returning to the starting XI.

An early corner created a good chance for Town with just over a minute played at Memorial Stadium. Leif Davis opted to pull it back to the corner of the box where Cameron Humphreys sent a first-time shot goalwards. His low strike was blocked with the hosts then scrambling the loose ball clear when Cameron Burgess looked set to bundle home from close range.

Burgess had the Blues' next opportunity a few minutes later but, after some head tennis involving Wes Burns and Ladapo, the centre-back could only nod straight into the arms of Ellery Balcombe.

Bristol Rovers' first chance, like Town's, came from a corner with Jarell Quansah heading over the top of the bar from the middle of the six yard box.

With the hosts defending in numbers, set pieces continued to be the most likely source of a first goal with Burgess once again being a major threat. On this occasion, the Australian defender met Davis' out-swinging corner but, under pressure from two defenders, he volleyed wide of the mark.

Christian Walton was tested for the first time with just over five minutes remaining in the half as he collected Aaron Collins' prodded effort with ease. Collins scuffed a shot high and wide a few moments later as the Gas ventured forwards again late in the first period.

Freddie Ladapo Bristol rovers (A).JPG

The Blues had a couple of half-chances early in the second half, with Ladapo firing a volley over the top of the frame from the edge of the area before Harness could not quite direct a header on target.

After snatching possession on the halfway line, Scott Sinclair brought Walton into action for the first time in the second half as he scooped up his low shot from just outside the box.

A goalline clearance from Luke Woolfenden saved Town midway through the second half. Walton dropped a cross with Sinclair poking the bouncing ball goalwards before the Town centre-back volleyed clear.

Nathan Broadhead was denied by Balcombe with 20 minutes remaining as his fierce strike after battling past a couple of defenders was parried away.

Broadhead, a lively presence in Town's attack following his introduction from the bench, saw a shot blocked from the middle of the box 10 minutes later after his fellow substitute, Conor Chaplin, had hooked the ball inside.

Harry Clarke saw his powerful shot from a tight angle saved by Balcombe late on as the Blues were forced to settle for a point.

Bristol Rovers: Balcombe, Connolly, Gordon, Quansah, Sinclair, Ward, Collins (C), Anderson (Hoole 76'), Evans, Bogarde (Coburn 76'), Gibbons.

Subs: Jaakkola, McCormick, Marquis, Lawrence, Macdonald.

Booked: Ventre (First-Team Coach).

Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess, Burns (Edwards 58'), Morsy (C), Humphreys, Davis (Clarke 75'), Aluko (Broadhead 58'), Harness (Chaplin 75'), Ladapo (Hirst 75').

Subs: Hladky, Jackson.

Booked: Clarke.

Attendance: 8,542 (1,299 Town fans).