Rovers 0-3 Yeovil
It may have been a disappointing result for Rovers, crashing out of the JPT in the first round against Yeovil tonight, but the fans and players can take heart from a much improved performance.
The 3-0 result was extremely flattering for the visiting side, as Rovers more than matched the Glovers for most of the game.
It may have ended with the same scoreline as Saturday's poor defeat to Morecambe, but it was a completely different display from Rovers.
Mark McGhee demanded a reaction following Saturday, and he definitely got one. Rovers had two goals disallowed, before Yeovil took the lead, which could have changed the complexion of the game.
Edward Upson scored the first two for the visitors, before Sam Foley rounded off the scoring in added time as Rovers pushed to get back in the game.
Mark McGhee made one change to that side that lost to Morecambe.
Matt Harrold was rested after picking up slight knee and Achilles problems, which meant Eliot Richards started up front alongside Dave Clarkson.
Cian Bolger came in to partner Tom Parkes in the centre of defence, with Adam Virgo moving to right back and Michael Smith slotting into the midfield.
Former Rovers player Dominic Blizzard lines up for Gary Johnson's unchanged Yeovil side.
Rovers settled well and displayed none of the nerves which were so evident in the second half against Morecambe on Saturday.
Wayne Brown had the first half chance for Rovers, the midfielder did well to win the ball, but his shot was blocked by Byron Webster.
Then Yeovil came close to taking the lead through a Jamie McAllister free kick. Luke Ayling got on the end of the ball, but his shot hit the post.
A free kick awarded at the other end was taken by Lee Brown, but the ball flew past the left post.
Edward Upson shot from distance for Yeovil, before Eliot Richards did well to pick up the ball in midfield and power the ball just wide.
Rovers then had their first goal disallowed; Lee Brown's cross found Matt Gill who was unable to prod the ball home from close range. The referee blew up for a foul on the Glovers' keeper as Michael Smith fired the ball into the back of the net.
Bolger was booked for a foul on Keanu Marsh-Brown, which resulted in a bit of pushing and shoving in the box, in a fixture that has been known to get quite feisty over the years.
Rovers more than matched Yeovil in the first half, playing well as a team and passing the ball with confidence, and they came out for the second half displaying the same sort of commitment.
Minutes after the restart Rovers had the ball in the back of the net again, but this time David Clarkson was ruled offside.
As the second half wore on, Yeovil managed to get more of a footing in the game, but Rovers continued to match their League One opponents.
Keanu Marsh-Brown produced a save from Sam Walker, before Tom Parkes was called into action to make an important block. Walker was then called upon again to punch clear from Marsh-Brown again.
Clarkson then played the ball through to Wayne Brown, but his low shot was claimed by Marek Stech in the Yeovil goal.
With 20 minutes to go Yeovil took the lead when Upson got on the end of a free kick just outside the area and slotted the ball into the top left corner.
Gill had a shot at the other end which flew harmlessly high, before Fabian Broghammer came on to replace Michael Smith.
Jamie McAllister was then sent off for raising his arm to the face of David Clarkson. Rovers needed to make their man advantage count in the final 15 minutes.
Upson made it 2-0 with five minutes to play through a free kick from 35 yards out wide left, Walker was only able to push the ball into the back of his own net.
Parkes had a header blocked off the line by Richard Hinds as Rovers sought to get back in the game, but the final blow came in added time when Sam Foley smashed home from close range.
It was a good team performance from Rovers for the majority of the game, with a number of players vastly improved from last weekend, the only thing missing was a goal.
Everyone at the club must take heart from the performance and look to pick up the first win of the season against Aldershot on Saturday.
Bristol Rovers: Sam Walker, Adam Virgo, Cian Bolger, Tom Parkes, Jim Paterson, Michael Smith (Fabian Broghammer), Wayne Brown, Matt Gill Lee Brown, Eliot Richards, David Clarkson
Substitutes: Conor Gough, Oliver Norburn, Joe Anyinsah, Ollie Clarke
Yeovil: Marek Stech, Luke Ayling, James McAllister, Richards Hinds, Byron Webster (Rohan Ince), Dominic Blizzard, Keanu Marsh-Brown (Nathan Ralph), Edward Upson, Sam Foley, James Hayter (Guzie Ugwu), Reuben Reid.
Substitutes: Gareth Stewart, Lewis Young.
Referee: Michael Naylor