ROVERS’ disappointing season suffered another blow on Saturday as Fleetwood plundered the points in a 3-1 victory at the Memorial Stadium.

Although the Cod Army are currently contesting the promotion places at the top of the division, they looked a fairly ordinary side which made the defeat all the more frustrating.

The Pirates cannot expect to win games, however, when they start matches in such a lacklustre fashion. Ward seemed to set the team up to not concede, rather than attack, with Brunt up front on his own and the midfield packed with extra bodies. That is a disappointing and somewhat negative way of approaching a home game when we are desperate for victories to move us up the table. The battling, never-say-die spirit instilled in the team when Ward took over last season seems to have mysteriously vanished.

Both teams cancelled each other out in a drab first half and 0-0 was an appropriate scoreline. The second half had goals but in the wrong end from a Gas perspective, as Fleetwood took advantage of some sloppy defending to punish us with clinical finishing. A lack of width and creativity in midfield, combined with defensive shortcomings, all contributed to Rovers’ first home defeat of the season, leaving us just one point off the relegation zone.

Off the pitch things seem far from well, which must be having a detrimental impact on our performances on the pitch.

Following Ward’s decision not to include Gill in his plans, it was revealed on Saturday that Kenneth wants to leave the club.

The big Scottish defender is another player who has been denied an opportunity since returning from injury and wants to move on.

Clarkson looks like the latest to be omitted despite some promising early season form. It may not be a coincidence that players regarded as being among the higher earners at the club are the ones the manager seems to be keen to ship out.

Whatever the reasons, performances need to improve drastically as the team prepare for a trip to Mansfield on Saturday.