ROVERS secured an excellent three points against high-flying Port Vale when the Valiants visited the Mem last Saturday.

Fresh from an away triumph against local rivals Swindon, Rovers looked to gain two wins on the bounce and started the game brightly with long range efforts from Jermaine Easter and Ollie Clarke.

Vale also had spells of possession in the early stages and in the 23rd minute Martin Paterson made the most of a mix up in the Rovers back line to drill the ball past Kelle Roos from 12 yards.

It was the second game in succession that we’d gone behind but that didn’t seem to faze the boys in the blue and white quarters.

Plenty of slick passing failed to translate into genuine chances until just before half time when Lee Brown delivered a pinpoint cross for Ellis Harrison to powerfully head past the Vale keeper.

Rovers came out by far the better side in the second half and put the visitors under sustained pressure.

Our dominance paid off just after the hour mark when ex-Valiant Byron Moore was rugby tackled in the box - the excellent Easter putting away the resulting spot kick with aplomb.

Moore nearly extended the lead with a cheeky chip which came off the post as the visiting team failed to further exert Roos in the Rovers goal. The three points capped a good week for the club, pushed us up to 9th in League One and demonstrated that we carried a goal threat without talismanic top scorer Matty Taylor who was out injured.

Unfortunately, Rovers couldn’t extend their unbeaten run to seven games after losing a tight game 1-0 at Sheffield Utd on Tuesday night.

A Harry Chapman goal separated the sides even though we exerted considerable late pressure, despite going down to 10 men after Easter picked up a needless red card.

Next up, Rovers face another tricky away trip to a dangerous-looking Northampton on Saturday.