Rovers salvaged a stoppage time point against Swindon Town today in a thrilling West Country derby at the Memorial Stadium.
It was the very least the Pirates deserved after battering the visitors for virtually the entire second half, creating chance after chance in front of the Robins goal.
Both sides took turns to lead the game, but by the time the final whistle sounded the scores were level at two goals each.
Rovers started the brighter of the two teams, and a superb shot from Craig Disley after just two minutes brought out the best in Phil Smith, who made a superb stop as he pushed the ball around the post.
Jo Kuffour almost opened the scoring ten minutes later after showing some great touches on the right side of the box. The striker flicked the ball over his head before firing a volley against the right post.
Rovers eventually took the lead midway through the first half, and it was another Rickie Lambert worldy.
Aaron Lescott broke forward down the left, and his stabbed cross to the edge of the box was superbly lashed home by Lambert from 18 yards out, leaving Smith helpless to keep the ball out.
Billy Paynter volleyed over as Swindon tried to come back into the game, and then Stuart Campbell did well to block a Barry Corr effort from 12 yards.
Swindon grabbed an unexpected equaliser with their first real effort on goal, a cross from Paynter was met by Patrick Kanyuka who managed to direct the ball home from six yards out.
Corr fired wide as Swindon looked for a quick second, and then the first half drew to a close with Kuffour going wide and Jeff Hughes aiming a rather weak effort straight at Smith.
Swindon seemed to begin the second half slightly sharper than Rovers, and for the first ten minutes or so enjoyed some decent possession football.
Paynter saw a shot saved well by Steve Phillips, before Swindon edged themselves into a 2-1 lead.
Lilian Nalis took a free-kick from the left flank which was met by Paynter on the right side of the box. His header was well controlled by an unmarked Corr, who had the simplest of tasks in slotting the ball home past Phillips.
After going 2-1 down, Rovers stepped up a gear, and for the last third of the match it was wave after wave of home pressure.
Disley headed over the crossbar from a Kuffour cross, and then Sean Rigg came off the bench to fire wide of the left post.
Rigg then showed some good skill down the left flank before finding Lambert on the edge of the box, and striker's shot came close to making it 2-2 as it rattled the Swindon crossbar.
Lambert headed over after more good work from Kuffour, and then Disley saw a powerful attempt on goal blocked by Sean Morrison.
Campbell fired wide, and then Disley saw a header superbly tipped around the post by an increasingly overworked Smith.
Lambert saw another effort from 30 yards go just the wrong side of the post, and then Campbell lashed a powerful volley just a yard or two wide of the right post.
Lambert hit the wall with another free-kick, and then Craig Hinton could only manage to fire straight at he goalkeeper from six yards after something of a mêlée in the Swindon goalmouth.
The equaliser eventually came for Rovers in the last minute of four added on at the end of the game, much to the delight of the home fans.
Rigg played the ball in from the flank, and Chris Lines rifled home a left-footed effort from 18 yards out to secure a share of the points of his side.
The only sour point of the game was the performance of referee Keith Stroud, who showed inconsistency and bad judgement in much of his decision-making.
The official made a number of poor decisions throughout the contest, most notably his decision to send off Lines for a second bookable offence after the midfielder's stoppage time equaliser.
That said, this was a very impressive performance from Rovers who should really have won by four or five goals.
A combination of good defending, poor finishing and bad luck ultimately ensured it would only be a point, but the team can be very proud of their overall display.
Reported by Ian Cole
