Walsall 0

Bristol Rovers 0

Rovers earned a thoroughly deserved point from a goalless draw against Walsall this afternoon.

Manager Paul Trollope asked his side for an improved performance this afternoon and he got that and more as his side dominated this game for long spells but just couldn't find a way past home keeper Clayton Ince who was voted the home side's Man of the Match.

It was an excellent team performance, with Rovers defending and attacking as a unit and it was just the tonic needed after Tuesday evening's performance against Leyton Orient.

Injuries to Danny Coles, Aaron Lescott and Chris Lines meant that Trollope had to make three changes to his starting lineup for this afternoon's game.

Steve Elliott partnered Byron Anthony at the heart of defence, Mark Wright came back into the side on the right of midfield with Dominic Blizzard starting in the centre, alongside skipper Stuart Campbell.

New signing Wayne Brown moved out to the left of midfield and up front the partnership of Andy Williams and Jo Kuffour continued, while there were a number of younger players on the bench including Mark Cooper and James Tyrrell.

Rovers began the game in a positive mood and although they had to defend a couple of early Walsall attacks there was no real danger to Mikkel Andersen's goal.

Richard Taundry and Sam Parkin both were both wide of the target following corners taken by Peter Till before another long range shot from Taundry flew high over the bar.

Wayne Brown was denied a first Rovers goal when a challenge from Darryl Westlake robbed him of the ball as he shaped to shoot and then Jo Kuffour hit a left foot shot wide of the mark following good work by Jeff Hughes and Mark Wright.

Rovers were dominating possession at this point and their passing game was frustrating both Walsall and their fans and Andy Williams went close to opening the scoring when he drilled an angled drive just over.

A stooping header from Byron Anthony, after Brown's left wing corner, almost gave Rovers the lead and then Brown did get a shot away but slipped as he connected with the ball, allowing Clayton Ince a comfortable save.

At the other end Matt Richards skied a shot over the bar but the half ended with Steve Elliott going close for Rovers, heading just wide from another Brown corner.

Richards hit a low shot straight at Andersen shortly after the restart, but it was the last glimpse of a home attack for some time as Rovers took the game to their hosts.

Brown saw a low shot saved by Ince and the same player saw another effort deflected behind or a corner.

Blizzard picked up on a poor clearance but couldn't get any power behind his shot and Ince dived to his right to make a comfortable save at the far post.

Byron Anthony made a spectacular clearance off the line from Peter Till's cross but when Rovers attacked again, Campbell almost scored with a 25 yard shot that Ince touched round the post.

There was almost a dramatic winner for the home side in the final minute when central defender Clayton McDonald rattled the crossbar after being allowed a free header, but a goal then would have been rough justice for Rovers who were unlucky not to register their first away win since the end of September.

Bristol Rovers: Mikkel Andersen, Carl Regan, Byron Anthony, Steve Elliott, Jeff Hughes, Mark Wright, Dominic Blizzard, Stuart Campbell, Wayne Brown, Andy Williams, Jo Kuffour

Substitutes: Charlie Reece, Charlie Clough, Ben Swallow, James Tyrell, Eliot Richards, Rhys Evans, Mark Cooper.

Walsall: Clayton Ince, Darryl Westlake, Clayton McDonald, Jamie Vincent, Netan Sansara, Peter Till Mark Bradley, 80), Dwayne Mattis, Richard Taundry, Matt Richards (Alex Nicholls, 75), Sam Parkin, Darren Byfield

Substitutes: Mark Hughes, Josh O'Keefe, Will Grigg, Sean Geddes, Rene Gilmartin

Referee: P Quinn

Attendance: 3,886

Rovers fans: 817