ROVERS crashed to another defeat on Saturday, making it the worst start to a league campaign for 26 years.

The disappointing 1-0 loss away to Luton Town was the fifth defeat in eight games so far this season and made manager Darrell Clarke admit after the game that we are in a relegation battle.

Sadly his new signings have yet to show much quality and we look desperately short of firepower up front.

The first half at Kenilworth Road was another lamentable performance. Rovers improved as the second half went on but it was too little, too late and the Hatters’ breakthrough in the 62nd minute was enough to seal the points, leaving us languishing in 22nd position.

The fact that we failed to muster a single shot on target once again tells its own story. We only managed three shots in total, compared to Luton’s 18, ten of which were on target.

We have tightened up at the back and look harder to break down in defence, with goalkeeper Bonham excelling again between the sticks.

But we lack creativity in midfield and punch in attack. The strikers are not being given many chances to put away as the team as a whole is not clicking and looks disjointed.

At the start of last season we had Bodin and Harrison in the team and we look woefully short of that quality.

Clarke has tried different combinations and pulled no punches after the game, saying that we were ‘abysmal’ for the first 45 minutes and criticised the players for not producing.

Given that he has led us to two promotions in his time as manager and does not have the budget to work with to make life easier, it’s important he retains the fans’ backing and is given time to turn it around.

We have been slow starters in the last few seasons but have massively improved by November and we can only hope this year follows a similar pattern.

The players urgently need to up their game and gel as a team before things get any worse.

The visit of Coventry City to the Mem on Saturday offers the ideal chance for the players to show they are better than their displays have shown and secure a much-needed victory.