Rovers battled to a 1-1 draw against fellow League One strugglers Shrewsbury at the Memorial Stadium last Saturday, writes Steve Knowlson.

The point was enough to keep us out of the dropzone on goal difference but the performance will raise questions about the team’s ability to stay out of the relegation places with some tough games against high-flying opposition coming up.

Manager Graham Coughlan made just the one change for the visit of the Shrews with Chris Lines coming into midfield in place of the suspended Ollie Clarke.

The first half was very poor from the Gas who were unable to gain a foothold in the game with both defences very much on top.

It was also an ill-tempered affair with tackles flying in and a number of players squaring up to each other, including Rovers midfielder Abu Ogogo shoving Shrewsbury’s former Gas midfielder Norburn after being on the receiving end of a heavy tackle. Both players went into the referee’s book and Norburn can count himself fortunate after avoiding a second yellow for a mistimed sliding tackle on Gavin Reilly minutes later.

The visitors took advantage of the lack of fluency on 35 minutes when Shaun Whalley’s deflected effort beat Jack Bonham in the Rovers goal. Rovers response was anaemic and they failed to seriously test the Shrews keeper for the rest of the half.

After what I would imagine was an extended blast of the hairdryer from the gaffer at half time, the Gas came out with a new formation and renewed vigour. Just five minutes into the half Reilly and Tom Nichols were replaced by the more physical Jonson Clarke-Harris and Alex Jakubiak.

The changes had an immediate effect as Clarke-Harris won a free kick on the right flank which was delivered by Lines and converted by Rodman’s head eight minutes into the second period.

The rest of the half was fairly evenly contested without either keeper having to make more than a couple of saves. After a pretty dismal performance, the referee finally brandished a red card to the visitors Dave Edwards for a reckless tackle on 85 minutes, but Rovers were unable to capitalise and the match ended all square.

Rovers travel to Portsmouth on Tuesday week and we’ll need to up our game to return with anything.