Same Old Story as Rovers Crumble Again at the Mem

It’s starting to feel all too familiar for Bristol Rovers. Just a week after being thumped 4–0 by MK Dons, the Gas suffered another humbling defeat — this time a 4–1 loss at home to Tranmere Rovers — in a performance that carried uncomfortable echoes of last season’s struggles.

The optimism that had started to build under Darrell Clarke has taken a serious knock. Once again, Rovers looked flat, disjointed, and short of belief — and Tranmere, winless in seven before this, took full advantage.

Centre-back Nathan Smith opened the scoring after 33 minutes, heading in Omari Patrick’s cross to give the visitors a deserved lead. From that moment, Rovers never looked settled.

After the break, Connor Jennings took control of the game, nodding home Aaron McGowan’s cross to make it two before adding another midway through the half when Luke Southwood spilled Patrick’s shot. It summed up Rovers’ afternoon — sloppy, unorganised, and punished every time.

When Josh Davison tapped in a fourth, the frustration around the Mem was impossible to ignore. Boos rang out at full-time — not out of malice, but out of sheer disappointment. Rovers fans have seen this script before, and after back-to-back heavy defeats, patience is wearing thin.

There was at least a late consolation from Alfie Chang, whose deflected strike made it 4–1, but by then the damage was long done.

Last season, inconsistency and poor home form cost Rovers dearly — and right now, it feels like old habits are creeping back in. Darrell Clarke has work to do to steady the ship and reignite the spark that briefly returned a few weeks ago.

The talent is there, but belief and discipline are slipping. A response is needed — and fast.

UTG.