Bristol Rovers were forced to share the points with Tranmere this afternoon as neither side was able to find the back of the net.

Rovers dominated for large spells of the second half, and although they threatened in the closing minutes the visitors were able to withstand the pressure.

And the home side was dealt a blow just before half time when the impressive Byron Anthony was stretched off after a clash with former Bristol City player Bas Savage.

Manager Paul Trollope has named an unchanged side and stuck with the team that beat Swindon Town last weekend.

Wayne Brown returned to Rovers this week following rehabilitation at his parent club Fulham, and took up a place on the bench in place of the injured Carl Regan.

It took a while for the first half to get going, and Tranmere had the first chance of the game when Paul McLaren got on the end of a cross but his glancing header flew over the bar.

Then the visitors almost took the lead when their captain Ian Thomas-Moore won the ball  and had a shot which Mikkel Andersen did well to tip round the post.

Referee Graham Scott turned down a penalty appeal from Rovers after Paul Heffernan appeared to have been clipped in the box.

Jo Kuffour then made a good run into the box, beating a number of defenders, but the ball just ran away from him.

Dominic Blizzard had a shot from 20 yards that flew high over the bar, before Ian Thomas-Moore failed to get on the end of a good cross at the other end.

Paul Heffernan came close to opening the scoring after he was played in by Jeff Hughes. But the Irishman's shot curled just wide of the left hand post.

Chris Lines then came close from what are beginning to become trade mark free kicks. His shot from 25 yards had to be pushed wide by Luke Daniels in the Tranmere goal.

Lines then had another free kick, but this time his shot was easily saved by Daniels.

Then Rovers lost Byron Anthony after the collision with Savage, and he was replaced by Wayne Brown, with Jeff Hughes reverting to right back.

The second half again began slowly before Rovers began to pile on the pressure. Tranmere put lots of men behind the ball, and were able to frustrate Rovers in front of goal.

The visitors defended well and Rovers were not able to turn their possession into goals. Rovers lacked a bit of width in the second half with Hughes moving to right back.

Stuart Campbell had a shot blocked by a Tranmere body, before Heffernan flicked the ball on to Brown, who did not manage to get on the end of it.

Heffernan again had a chance to score his third goal for Bristol Rovers, when he got on the end of a cross from Hughes, but the resulting shot went high.

Paul Trollope made another change, bringing Andy Williams on to replace Dominic Blizzard and try and create a bit more of an attacking threat down the side.

Danny Coles came close to getting on the score sheet when he jumped the highest from a corner and got a good head on the ball, unfortunately Daniels was able to make a punch the ball away.

Rovers won a string of corners as they continued to push for a goal, but Tranmere stayed strong and managed to block Rovers' attempts.

With just minutes remaining Jeff Hughes hit a powerful shot from 25 yards out that the keeper was able to punch away to safety.

Tranmere were reduced to 10 men in extra time when Zoumane Bakayogo picked up a second yellow card for his foul on Chris Lines just outside the box.

Heffernan had one last chance to win it for Rovers, but his header bounced just wide.

Team: Mikkel Andersen, Byron Anthony (Wayne Brown), Danny Coles, Steve Elliott, Daniel Jones, Dominic Blizzard (Andy Williams), Chris Lines, Stuart Campbell, Jeff Hughes, Paul Heffernan, Jo Kuffour

Substitutes: Mark Wright, Charlie Reece, Ben Swallow, Eliot Richards, Rhys Evans

Tranmere Rovers: Luke Daniels, Ian Goodison, Ash Taylor, Zoumano Bakayogo, Shaleum Logan, Chris McCready, Paul McLaren, John Welsh, Ian Thomas-Moore, Craig Curran, Bas Savage.

Substitutes: Joe Collister, Gareth Edds, Marlon Broomes, Alan Mahon, Chris Shuker, Marvin Sordeel, Luke O'Neill.