Rovers' long winless streak continued thanks to a goalless draw with Hartlepool United. New manager Dave Penney had expressed concerns before the game about the lack of clean sheets kept by the team in recent times, so it was perhaps unsurprising that he started with a 5–3–2 formation. The clean sheet that Penney desired was achieved, but The Pirates were unable to find a goal themselves and the match petered out into a tame 0–0 draw.