Relegation-threatened Stockport County left empty-handed from the Memorial Stadium after what the Stockport Express called "a lacklustre display."
The only goal of a dour game came after a howler from County defender Adam Griffin.
The left back miscued a clearance horribly and sliced the ball right across to the opposite side of the pitch, straight to Northern Ireland international Jeff Hughes.
The Express added: "The winger couldn't believe his luck as he took the ball just inside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot across keeper Owain Fon Williams into the far corner of the County goal with half an hour gone.
"But Griffin almost made amends three minutes later when he linked up brilliantly with Jemal Johnson on the left wing but as he cut inside, Griffin saw his right foot effort parried by Rovers keeper Rhys Evans.
"Worryingly Johnson then left the field after picking up an injury, adding to a lengthy list of casualties.
"A rare County chance fell to Jabo Ibehre eight minutes from time, but the big man failed to guide the ball through the Rovers defence.
"There was also a shout for a penalty when David Perkins crashed to the ground inside the Rovers box.
"And to pile more misery on for the 73 County fans who made the long trip to the south west, winger David Poole was red-carded in stoppage time after a second bookable offence."
Paul Trollope told the Bristol Evening Post: "It certainly wasn't pretty, but we are thankful for the three points.
"We are pleased with the clean sheet but it was nowhere near the level we are capable of.
"We didn't start the game well, although credit has to go to Stockport because they made it very difficult - and that continued throughout the match.
"It was a case of grinding it out for the three points, and that's what we had to do.
"There have been a lot of times in the last four years when I have said we've played well and passed the ball well - but then lost."
Hatters boss Gary Ablett said: "The ref told our captain that the Rovers player was through, but he was only 10 yards inside our half.
"I thought we did a fantastic job, although it was a dour game. They had one shot that went in."
Aidy Boothroyd could not hide his disappointment after Colchester United slumped to what the Colchester Daily Gazette described as "a surprise defeat at Bristol Rovers."
The U's were beaten 3-2 at the Memorial Stadium to surrender their five-game unbeaten record and lose ground in the Coca-Cola League One promotion race.
Boothroyd, a former Rovers full-back, felt his side's performance in both boxes contributed to Colchester's downfall.
He told The Gazette: "I can't remember being as annoyed as I am since I've been here.
"People talk about football in great detail but it's what you do in the two boxes that really counts."
Colchester's Ashley Vincent told the paper that "his long-awaited return from injury was ruined by Colchester United's disappointing defeat."
The U's winger came on as a second-half substitute at the Memorial Stadium to make his first competitive appearance since injuring his ankle at Swindon Town, last September.
The 24-year-old has had to wait nearly six months to return to the pitch, following a long rehabilitation programme.
Vincent played for the final 25 minutes but was unable to prevent the U's from sliding to a 3-2 defeat and losing ground in the Coca-Cola League One promotion race.
Vincent told the Gazette: "We're all very disappointed.
"I was very happy to be back but I would rather be talking about us winning than my own personal goals."
The Gazette report added: "Colchester had the better of the early exchanges.
"Rovers goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen pushed away Steven Gillespie's goalbound header and then Gillespie fired a gilt-edged opportunity into the side netting, following Phil Ifil's deep cross.
"But the U's fell behind in the 16th minute when Dominic Blizzard's long-range effort flew past goalkeeper Ben Williams, after Paul Heffernan had laid the ball off.
"Colchester were only behind for five minutes though. Ifil's shot looked to be heading wide after Rovers had failed to clear Marc Tierney's throw, only for John-Joe O'Toole to smartly head the effort past Andersen from ten yards.
"The second half proved a cat and mouse affair in the opening stages.
"But after Stuart Campbell's effort had flashed wide, Colchester fell behind again midway through the second half. Heffernan helped on Campbell's ball into the area and Jo Kuffour fired past Williams from close range.
"Rovers added a third with 11 minutes to go through top-scorer Chris Lines, who scored from close range after Kuffour had hooked the ball back from the goal-line.
"Odejayi hooked a shot against a post after Andersen had denied Platt and found the net in the final minute when he blasted in from Platt's lay-off.
"But it was not enough for the U's to take anything from the game, as the Pirates claimed victory."
