A single goal from Jeff Hughes was all that separated the two teams at the Memorial Stadium tonight.

The midfielder fired the home side into the lead in the first half, capitalising on a defnsive error and firing a low shot past Stockport keeper Owain fon Williams.

The game may not have had the excitement of Saturday's clash with Colchester, but Rovers did what they had to do to take maximum points and record their third home win in a row.

Paul Trollope made just one, enforced, change to that side that beat Colchester on Saturday. Rhys Evans came into the team, replacing Mikkel Andersen, who is away on international duty.

The game started slowly, with both sides struggling to carve out any chances in the opening half an hour. Chris Lines had a speculative shot that went high above the bar, and Jeff Hughes narrowly missed getting on the end of a good cross from Stuart Campbell.

At the other end Rhys Evans was called into action to make a couple of easy saves.

A mistake by Stockport's Adam Griffin gave Rovers the chance to take the lead after 30 minutes. The defender's clearance was delivered straight into the path of Hughes, who made a run, hit the ball through the legs of a defender and under the diving fon Williams into the net.

The goal seemed to spark the game into life for a short period, with Jemal Johnson making a run for the visitors, only to be denied by Evans.

Jo Kuffour then had a chance to double the lead after he got clear of the Stockport defence, but fon Williams had the better of him.

Stockport squandered a great chance to equalise thanks to David Poole, but Rhys Evans got down well to block the shot, and Steve Elliott was on hand to block the follow up from captain David Perkins.

Referee Dean Whitehouse did not return for the second half, having picked up an injury, and was replaced by his assistant Andy Bennett.

It was an ill-tempered second half, as both sides struggled to get a shot on target.

The Hatters had a spell of pressure early in the period, as the side received a few corners, before a shot from Jabo Ibehre was deflected wide.

Another mistake from the visitors nearly led to a second goal for Rovers, after fon Williams spilled a free kick from Daniel Jones, but the ball was hacked away by the Stockport defence.

Rovers made a double substitution on 68 minutes, replacing Dominic Blizzard and Jo Kuffour with Charlie Reece and Andy Williams, as they searched for the safety of a second goal.

Paul Heffernan then found the ball and made a good run down the right, but he could not quite control the ball and it ran away from him.

Stockport had a rare chance and almost drew level when Rhys Evans dropped the ball - Byron Anthony needed to make a goal line clearance to remove the danger.

Poole was sent off in extra time for a second yellow card after a foul on Jones, and all Rovers had to do was hold on for the final few minutes.

Rovers now sit within 10 points of the play offs heading into Saturday's local derby against Swindon.

Team: Rhys Evans, Byron Anthony, Danny Coles, Steve Elliott, Daniel Jones, Jeff Hughes, Chris Lines, Stuart Campbell, Dominic Blizzard (Charlie Reece), Paul Heffernan, Jo Kuffour (Andy Williams).

Substitutes: Carl Regan, Ben Swallow, Mark Wright, Aaron Lescott, Eliot Richards.

Stockport: Owain fon Williams, James Vincent, Paul Huntingdon, Mat Sadler, Adam Griffin, Paul Turnbull, David Poole, Jemal Johnson (Ritchie Partridge), David Perkins, Jabo Ibehre, George Donnelly (Andy Halls).

Substitutes: Paul Gerrard, Greg Tansey, Danny Rowe, Sam Barnes, Tom Fisher.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northants)