ROVERS’ poor run of form continued on Saturday as a 1-0 defeat at Rochdale made it three consecutive losses.

Hopes were high that we could return with a win as Dale were in the bottom third and hadn’t won themselves in five games.

But it wasn’t to be as the team laboured to another underwhelming performance to leave us beginning to anxiously look over our shoulders at the sides below us.

Darrell Clarke chose to replace Slocombe in goal with Smith following the hammering suffered at the hands of Shrewsbury last week.

Lines was also dropped to the bench but he has been one of our most consistent performers this season.

Nichols was also left out of the starting line-up as Clarke opted to continue with the strike partnership of Harrison and Gaffney, but we have now failed to hit the back of the net for the last three games.

Rochdale took the lead in the seventh minute as they capitalised on some poor defending. That left plenty of time to get back into the contest but it was not to be as we failed to turn any of our possession or shots into meaningful chances.

Defensively we have looked poor recently, whichever players Clarke selects. Our midfield has failed to control games and we have lacked width to prise open defences, particularly since losing Bodin to injury.

Up front we have also failed to score goals and the time may have come to give Telford a run in the team to see if he can do better than the others.

As we prepare to face MK Dons at home on Saturday, a big improvement is needed to ensure we are not dragged into a relegation battle, otherwise the owners will have to give the manager more backing in the transfer market in January to make us more competitive.

The game on Saturday was tinged with sadness as we had learned of the tragic passing of former Rovers chairman Geoff Dunford, aged just 66.

The immeasurable contribution he and his family have made to Bristol Rovers will never be forgotten as they saved the club in the 1980s and our best wishes and condolences go to his family.