Rovers produced a much-improved display against Northampton Town this afternoon to take a point away from the Sixfields Stadium.

Paul Trollope's side enjoyed plenty of possession throughout the contest, and after a shaky start, went on to enjoy the better of the chances over the course of an entertaining match.

Adebayo Akinfenwa fired a powerful volley just wide of the upright after just a few minutes of action, and then Danny Jackman saw a deflected free-kick tipped around the post by Steve Phillips.

Akinfenwa had the ball in the back of the Rovers net but saw the strike disallowed for a foul, and then Scott McGleish was also thwarted after finding a way past Phillips, this time though for an obvious offside.

Jeff Hughes headed goalwards for Rovers but was denied by a well positioned Chris Dunn, and then Craig Disley rifled a low drive into the side-netting as Rovers gradually came back into the game.

Rovers continued to enjoy more and more of the ball as half-time neared, with Chris Lines going closest in the final moments of the opening period as his shot just cleared the Northampton crossbar.

Northampton started the second half brightly, but after weathering some decent pressure, it was the visitors that created most of the clear-cut chances that followed.

Disley saw a weak header saved, and then the same player saw a header cleared off the line after a low free-kick from Stuart Campbell caused mayhem in the home penalty box.

Campbell smashed a volley narrowly wide, and then Rickie Lambert went close with two headers on goal, one which was blocked and then another that was superbly saved by Dunn.

Lines volleyed wide as Rovers began to turn the screw, before Leon Constantine eased the pressure momentarily with a header that crept wide of the Rovers goal.

Campbell was unlucky as his well-directed free-kick was kept out by Dunn, and then in stoppage time at the end of the match, a superb Disley ball into the box was just inches away from finding the head of Aaron Lescott who had surged forward from the back.

The final whistle brought the match to an end after three minutes of stoppage time, and despite more pressing from the away side, Northampton held on for a point.

It was a much better display from Rovers after the lethargic Boxing Day performance that disappointed so many, and although the three points weren't forthcoming today, it was at least a relatively positive way to end the year.

Reported by Ian Cole