WITH Rovers meeting Walsall twice in three days the Wolverhampton Express and Star described the first game as "no grand prelude to the rearranged trip to Bristol. Those who were in two minds whether to make the journey down the M5 will now be ensuring they misplace their car keys."
The E and S said it had been "an instantly forgettable first-half followed by an equally turgid second. Those expecting a calm before the storm were left wanting as a lull enveloped a frustratingly bland opening period. It was uncompromising, it was scrappy, it was tedious.
"To their credit, the sides tried to play football on a patchwork surface which will certainly need replacing over the summer. But it was hardly wondrous stuff with possession continually wasted and touch regularly being found.
The E and S admitted: "Rovers made the running and, although the impasse was yet to be broken, they got close when Campbell threaded Kuffour through but when he chipped over the advancing Ince, the excellent McDonald was alive to cover.
"A winner, for either side, would have been unjust but the Saddlers almost snatched the game in injury time as McDonald rose to meet Taundry's corner and his header smacked off the crossbar."
Like Rovers, Walsall were desperate for the emergency loan window to open. The E and S said: "It's time to call the cavalry and at 9am tomorrow the charge will sound. It represents the best chance for Walsall to save a slowly dying campaign."
The E and S concluded: "Given Rovers hadn't won on their travels since September and the Saddlers were searching to end a run of seven games without a victory, a goalless draw shouldn't have been a surprise."
"Woefully inept" was how the Waltham Forest Guardian described Rovers' performance after they were thrashed 5-0 at Leyton Orient.
The paper pointed out how the O's "ran riot" and that it was their biggest win since 2001. The Guardian went on: "This was a performance to relish by Orient, and manager Geraint Williams, a former Rovers player must reflect on how wonderful it is when a plan comes together.
"Stephen Purches, Scott McGleish, Ryan Jarvis, Jason Demetriou all netted as the Pirates were ship-wrecked on rocks in East London.
"And a great night got a perfect finish when Jonathan Tehoue tapped in Sean Thornton's free kick from six yards, with a minute to go. 'We want six!' was the cry from the stands around the pitch. They ruled this game from midfield, as Demetriou and Nicky Adams each turned in season best displays.
"It must be said that Rovers were woefully inept, and came into tonight's game with just one win in five.
"Their main threat Jo Kuffour had all the profile of a man on the witness protection scheme, as he was repeatedly forced to come deep to get possession. But they were made to look bad by the hosts."
The newspaper reminded its readers that "Bristol Rovers are pushing for a play-off place in League One but they were virtually anonymous in the first half.
Three days earlier Rovers had suffered a 3-2 home defeat against Wycombe Wanderers and the Bucks Free Press told how Gary Waddock's team were "excellent value for it on another rollercoaster afternoon when they put their 400 travelling fans through another assault course of emotions.
"First they were in dreamland when Matt Harrold drilled home the first of two Wanderers penalties after just 14 minutes when Stuart Campbell handled Alex Revell's hooked cross.
"But after being vastly superior for the opening 35 minutes, Wanderers somehow went down the tunnel losing 2-1 at half time as Rovers produced a stunning turnaround which would have knocked most sides senseless.
"After being overwhelmingly second best, Chris Lines turned it round for the hosts with a dazzling double in the space of four gut-wrenching first half minutes for Blues.
"He hauled The Pirates level on 38 minutes as he wrapped a 25-yard free kick around the wall and beyond Wanderers' former Rovers keeper Scott Shearer.
"Shearer had been a spectator for much of the first half but just four minutes later he was picking the ball out of his net again as Lines repeated the dose to fire Rovers in front again from distance.
"If Rovers thought that was job done they were in for a very rude awakening as Wanderers belied their position at the wrong end of the table. The home side's lead lasted for just six minutes as Wanderers began the second half like a wounded animal.
"Stuart Beavon was chopped down in the box by Danny Coles and for the second time in the afternoon the ref pointed to the spot.
"Penalty taker Harrold, mindful of the fact that the last time he was asked to take two penalties in a game against Brentford, he had missed the second, left it to Revell. And, after breaking his run to deceive the keeper, the debutant got off to a scoring start with a 49th minute leveller which he sent down the middle."
