Pools lost out 2-0 at Bristol Rovers this afternoon in a game in which Chris Turner's men dominated possession but just failed to find a deserved breakthrough.

Joe Gamble was immense for Pools this afternoon, controlling the midfield, but despite a whole host of chances for Turner's men, there was no way through and they were punished by the hosts.

There were worrying signs for Pools early on here at Bristol Rovers as the hosts pushed forward from the off.

Steve Haslam was forced into action as he deflected a Jo Kuffour blast wide of target inside the first minute - unfortunately there was more to come as Rovers took an early lead.

A well-placed corner from Stuart Campbell on the right saw the ball sail into the area where Chris Lines was allowed to rise unchallenged and head home.

While last season's 4-1 defeat here may have been playing on the minds of the Pools' fans, the players showed a strong, determined approach as they dug in and really put the pressure on Rovers.

And Joe Gamble, sitting in his role just in front of the back four, was really pulling the strings for Pools as he took control and distributed the ball forward with precision.

Gamble picked out the lively Colin Larkin down the right wing with a good ball, but despite a pacy run from the winger, his final ball hit the side netting,

Neil Austin, yet to find the net for Pools, tried his luck with a cheeky effort from distance but the ball went over the bar as Turner's men upped their pressure,

With Pools in control of play, the hosts had to rely on chances on the break - Jeff Hughes firing through a crowded area on the volley but the ball went wide of the post.

Andy Monkhouse should have fired Pools level mid-way through the first half when Larkin fed him with a good ball from the right but the left winger mis-hit his final shot and the ball went wide of goal.

Pools were dominating possession and doing all the right things in terms of build up, with just the final touch missing so far.

Denis Behan nodded a ball into the area only to see it cleared out - Larkin was in place to pick up the clearance and set off on a run into the area where he blasted in at goal - his effort hit the roof of the net though and Pools still could not find that breakthrough.

The only real outlet for Rovers came down the right, with Mark Wright showing a good turn of pace and he caused the biggest problem for Pools when he sent a fizzing ball into the box which pinged around before Ritchie Humphreys was able to punt clear.

Wright then set the ball off into the path of Kuffour, who took far too long to make his move and his final shot was straight into the arms of Flinders - for one of the keeper's few touches of the ball in thei first half.

There was then a goalmouth scramble at the other end as Pools threw everything at goal; Gary Liddle shot at goal twice only to see his efforts blocked, before Humphreys saw his shot put wide for a corner.

The busy Larkin tried his luck once more before the break only to see his shot saved by Mikkel Andersen as Pools finished the first half in the ascendancy.

And the pressure from Turner's men continued into the second half ; Behan picked up a ball from the influential Gamble to poke an effort from close range but Andersen did just enough to tip his ball over the bar.

With the hosts introducing former Pools loanee Darryl Duffy to the action ten minutes into the second period the striker gave Rovers a bit of a lift as Turner's men were pushed back for spells for the first time since early in the game.

Behan tried a fierce drive at goal from the edge of the area but his shot sent the fans behind the goal running for cover rather than testing Andersen.

Unfortunately things took a massive turn for the worse for Pools and, as is so often the case, it was a former player who was at the centre of it.

Duffy beat the offside trap to pick up the ball on the left edge of the area before he twisted and turned his way into enough space to fire in on goal and the striker sent a powerful drive past the outstretched Flinders and into the bottom right corner of the net.

Any observer of the game would admit the Pools did not deserve to be behind in this game, let alone by two goals but Turner's men now had a mountain to climb if they were to get anything from this game.

Ritchie Jones and Adam Boyd were introduced to the action for Pools and the switch almost paid instant dividends for Turner as Jones fired in low from outside the box - his shot though, took a deflection and went just wide of target.

Gary Liddle saved Pools from going three behind with a great interception to head clear a dangerous Wright effort on goal.

Neil Austin fired a testing freekick at goal which pulled a great save from keeper Andersen - whose man of the match award best summed up the tone of the game this afternoon.

Adam Boyd sent a looping header at goal which landed on the roof of the net as Pools pushed to the end but still failed to find a way through on goal.

A highly disappointing result for Pools, who were on top for much of the game but with the goals not arriving, Turner's men face the long trip home on the back of another defeat.

Att: 5794 (116 Pools)

Pools: Flinders, Haslam, Collins, Liddle, Austin, Larkin, Sweeney, Gamble, Humphreys (Jones 73), Monkhouse, Behan (Boyd 73)
Subs Not Used: Cook, Clark, Fredriksen, McSweeney, Bjornsson

Bristol Rovers: Andersen, Regan, Coles, Anthony, Lescott, Wright (Reece), Campbell, Lines, Hughes (Swallow), Williams (Duffy 56), Kuffour
Subs Not Used: Evans, Elliott, Clough, Richards