A real summer's afternoon set the scene for today's encounter against Bournemouth, the former club of the Rovers managerial team of Sean O'Driscoll and Richard O'Kelly together with players, James O'Connor, Brian Stock and James Hayter. Goalscorers are renowned for scoring against their former clubs so hopefully James Hayter will do just that. Both clubs have added to their playing squads this week with loan signings, Matthew Mills, a centre half, from Manchester City for the Rovers and Lee Bradbury, a forward, from Southend United for Bournemouth. The Rovers turned out an unchanged team for the fourth game in succession, with Graeme Lee, Steve Roberts, Brian Stock, Jason Price and Kevin Horlock still on the injured list. There was a change on the substitutes bench, however, with Matthew Mills replacing Sam Hird. Again, the Rovers were without a substitute keeper, five outfielders being preferred. Bournemouth have their injury problems with summer signing Paul Telfer and loan signing, Russell Perrett, both experienced players but out with injury. Lee Bradbury starts up front alongside Jo Kuffour, returning after injury. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.

Bournemouth, in yellow shirts and white shorts, set the game in motion. The first incident of note came after 2 minutes when the referee saw fit to caution Gradel, of Bournemouth, for throwing the ball up in the air at the award of a free kick to the Rovers. After the first flurry of attack by Bournemouth from the kick off, the Rovers took up the challenge, Wilson hitting a left foot shot from the edge of the penalty area, which Begovic, in the visiting goal, saved. Then a free kick on the Rovers right caused problems for the Bournemouth defence before being cleared. A good move down the Rovers left followed resulting in Roberts crossing to the far post where Hayter volleyed over from 10 yards. Continuing the pressure the home team won the first corner of the game, which was cleared setting the visitors on the attack. Lockwood put safety first and kicked out for a corner on the Bournemouth left. Anderton swung the ball in under the bar but Sullivan tipped the ball away for another corner. On 11 minutes the Rovers had a shout for a penalty when Heffernan went down in the area under challenge but the referee wasn't interested. Two minutes later, Kuffour ran at the Rovers defence and getting into the penalty area before shooting low at goal causing Sullivan to dive to save. The Rovers went straight down to the other end where Heffernan got into the penalty area to the right of goal before getting in a shot that Begovic could only palm down before gathering at the second attempt. Garry, of Bournemouth was then cautioned for clattering Hayter in the next Rovers attack. A good cross from the left by Woods stranded the keeper but Hayter couldn't get to it. Then, 24 minutes, came the breakthrough. A corner on the Rovers right was swung in left footed by Woods to the near post where GREER headed into the net to put the Rovers in front. Immediately a long clearance out of the visiting defence was seized on by Kuffour, who lobbed Sullivan as he came out but the ball landed on the top of the net. Bournemouth were not denied for long. On 29 minutes, GRADEL, on the visiting side's right crossed left footed into a crowded six yard box. Kuffour went to head the ball but didn't make contact thus deceiving Sullivan who was behind him. The ball rolled slowly over the goalline for an equalising goal to the visitors. The Rovers won a corner but nothing came of it. The remainder of the half found the Rovers defending as Bournemouth piled on the pressure. Kuffour fired high and wide from 16 yards, Gareth O'Connor shot over from the edge of the penalty area following a corner and Pearce headed over at the far post to another corner. Stout defending by the home defence kept the score at 1 goal apiece as the half time whistle went.

The Rovers started the ball rolling in the second half but lost the ball and Bournemouth went on the attack. The ball was played into the Rovers penalty area where KUFFOUR won a battle for possession with Greer, rounded O'Connor and shot low into the corner of the Rovers net. Kuffour had caused problems in the first half with his pace and skill on the ball but this time they couldn't hold him. Back came the Rovers to win a series of corners but nothing came of them. On 56 minutes, a sloppy backpass by Cummings to Begovic let Heffernan in with a chance to chase the ball but Begovic came out of the challenge with the ball and cleared. Another corner to the home team was swung in by Woods but the keeper made a good catch under the bar. The Rovers made a couple of substitutions and piled on the pressure. A cross from the Rovers left was punched away off Hayter's head, a volley by Wellens from 25 yards was wide of the mark and Hayter fired over  from 8 yards following a corner. As the last quarter of an hour was reached Woods had a 25 yards free kick saved and on 83 minutes, Hayter was played in down the inside right channel but fired high and wide. The pressure was continuous by the Rovers but they could not breach the visiting defence. Despite four minutes of added -on time the final score meant that Bournemouth went back to the South coast with all three points.

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Gordon Greer, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Richie Wellens, Mark Wilson, Martin Woods; James Hayter, Paul Heffernan.

Subs used - Lewis Guy for Coppinger 63 mins; Mark McCammon for Wilson 66 mins; Matthew Mills for Gareth Roberts 84 mins;

Subs not used - Sean McDaid, Paul Green,

Bournemouth - Asmir Begovic; Jason Pearce, Ryan Garry, Josh Gowling, Warren Cummings; Darren Anderton, Mark-Alain Gradel, Jean-Francois Christophe, Gareth O'Connor; Jo Kuffour, Lee Bradbury.

Subs used - Shaun Cooper for Gareth O'Connor 72 mins; Brett Pitman for Gradel 77 mins; Neil Young for Kuffour 90mins;

Subs not used - Sam Vokes, Neil Moss gk

Cautions - Gradel, Garry, Cooper,