Rovers crashed out of the FA Cup as non-league Boreham Wood pulled off an upset. Two first-half goals for the visitors was enough to see off an uncharacteristically subdued Gas.
James Connolly led Rovers out at the age of 21 for the Emirates FA Cup Second Round tie against National League side Wood.
The non-league side shocked Bournemouth last season in the same competition, before going out to Everton.
Rovers began brightly and Collins, Coburn and Loft all fashioned half-chances for themselves, without ever troubling Ashmore in the visitors' goal. In the 17th minute, the visitors took the lead. Brunt's corner was played to the edge of the area, where Broadbent fired home past an unsighted Belshaw.
There were two let-offs in thirty seconds for the Gas in the 26th minute. First, Broadbent was left unmarked but his header cannoned off the post, before Ndlovu's goal was ruled out for offside. Wood did make it two in the 29th minute, however, after the Rovers defence failed to clear the ball from a corner and Stephens climbed high to loop the ball over Belshaw.
The first yellow of the game came in the 38th minute after Brunt fouled Thomas. Evans' free-kick didn't beat the first man and Wood cleared their lines. An Evans cross almost found the advancing Gordon, but that was the last meaningful action of a disappointing first forty-five.
Joey Barton responded by making four substitutions for the second-half. Clarke, McCormick, Finley and Gibbons replacing Gordon, Evans, Whelan and Thomas.
Rovers flew out of the blocks, with two Finley and Loft challenges raising the atmosphere. Collins raced onto Coburn's header and went to ground in the area. Referee Barrott waved away the appeals for a penalty.
The visitors survived the pressure and Rovers huffed and puffed but couldn't find a way through a resolute Wood defence.
Next up for Rovers is a return to League One action, as they travel north to face Bolton on Friday, December 2nd (7:45pm kick-off).
Referee: S Barrott
Attendance: 4,769 (372 away)
BRISTOL ROVERS: Belshaw, Connolly (c), Gordon, Sinclair, Collins, Gibson, Loft, Evans, Whelan, Thomas, Coburn.
Substitutes: Jaakkola, Kilgour, Hoole, McCormick, Saunders, Gibbons, Finley, Clarke.
BOREHAM WOOD: Ashmore (c), Ilesanmi, Evans, Stephens, Broadbent, Ndlovu, Newton, Fyfield, Payne, Brunt, Coxe.
Substitutes: Rees, Marsh, Elliott, Lewis, Williams, Sousa, Andrade.