By Stephen Knowlson

For the second time in a week, Gasheads’ hearts were broken by a late, late goal scored in stoppage time.

Last Saturday’s match saw Bristol Rovers travel north to Staffordshire to play former Championship side Burton. The Brewers hadn’t enjoyed the best starts to their life back in League One and after Tuesday’s solid victory against Yeovil in the Checkatrade Trophy, Rovers were hoping to bag all three points at the Pirelli Stadium.

Darrell Clarke gave Tuesday’s goal scorers, Alex’s Rodman and Jakubiak, starts in the hope that our three-game goalscoring drought in the league would come to an end.

Alas, that was not to be. Yet again, the first 45 minutes were woeful with Rovers offering nothing except a lack of creativity going forward. We had not a single effort on goal in the first period and Jakubiak was left increasingly isolated. Our defence was solid and we restricted the hosts to a handful of half chances but could manage nothing ourselves.

The second half was more of the same. However, as it progressed Burton started to exert considerable pressure, hitting the woodwork twice and forcing Jack Bonham into a couple of decent saves.

Just as we hoped that a handy away point was ours, Gasheads experienced another Groundhog Day as Ben Fox scored in the 91st minute for the home side after a goalmouth scramble.

The result means that we stay in the bottom four and it doesn’t take a genius to work out why. Only five teams have let in fewer goals than Rovers so far this term, but we’re level with rock-bottom Plymouth on goals scored – just nine from 13 games and none in the last four.

This has to change – and change fast – if we’re to avoid a season of struggle at the wrong end of the table and ultimately relegation. It is essential that Darrell Clarke changes his negative, defensive tactics and provides more service to the men up front. He also needs to stop constantly tinkering with the line up – he’s made more changes than any other manager in our division.

The home tie against similarly-struggling Oxford is now a huge game on Saturday. Gasheads will be expecting much, much better.