GOAL: Dodoo (3), Aasgaard (15), Solomon-Otabor (33), Richards (45+3), Keane (81)

ROVERS: Balcombe; Wright, Anderson, John, Horton (Bostock 38); Smith (Gomes 65); Robertson (Richards 38), James (Amos 46); Sims (Okenabirhie 70), Lokilo; Bogle. Subs: Jones, Greaves.

WIGAN: Jones; Darikwa, Tilt, Johnston, Robinson; Ojo, Evans, Solomor-Otabor (Gardner 77); Aasgaard (Clough 86); Dodoo (Whelan 90); Keane (Proctor 86). Subs: Evans, Perry, Long.

REF: Alan Young.

Another disastrous defeat for Rovers and a body blow that could prove critical to their hopes of gatecrashing the play-offs.

They were better in the second half but they left themselves with far too much to do in a very poor first half performance where they were far too brittle and lacked the requisite urgency against a side who demonstrated it in spades.

Again they have been outbattled and outworked at key moments by an opposition team struggling for form, and they have got what they deserved yet again.

This situation is dire and, despite some brighter moments after the break, it shows little sign of improving any time soon.

It was a long time ago

FOUR minutes

John Bostock goes for goal from 20 yards but it’s a fairly comfortable save for Jamie Jones in the Wigan goal

It’s either an own goal or one from Will Keane.

And it’s all over from a Rovers perspective.

It was a rapid break from the visitors, the ball is worked out wide to Joe Dodoo, who drills the ball across goal and it appears that Keane bundled it in

Will Keane drills wide from 20 yards after great work from Joe Dodoo

Fej Okenabirhie replaces Josh Sims

And Gomes replacing Smith is confirmed

Madger Gomes looks set to come on for Matt Smith who is clearly injured

Tom Anderson blocks with his chest from Viv Solomon-Otabor who had weaved his way into a shooting opportunity.

Really good one touch passing from Rovers takes them up the pitch. John Bostock clipped a fine ball over the top for Josh Sims to race onto. The Southampton loanee got the better of his man and cut inside, drilling a low effort which was blocked by the feet of goalkeeper Jamie Jones.

Taylor Richards take possession of the ball on half way with a fine turn that holds off his man and puts him on the front foot. He gallops forward and slides a pass into the box for Jason Lokilo, who touches it towards goal but sees keeper Jamie Jones race out and get enough on his block to take it away from goal.

That was by far the best attack from Rovers so far and more of the old Taylor Richards.

And Rovers make a change at the break with Danny Amos replacing Reece James.

I was all set to write, just when you think things cannot get any worse.

And while there will be no counting of chickens just yet, Rovers have indeed given themselves a lifeline in what looked to be a disastrous situation.

They crumbled to a 3-0 deficit in quick time and were demonstrating nothing that suggested they were capable of getting back into it.

They have been slow, ponderous, not taken up space, and been outworked by a side that should have been low on confidence but look like a team that are operating at the peak of their powers.

But that goal from Taylor Richards has given Rovers something, that faint glimmer of hope and something to harness at half time to ensure better after the break.