HALF

Bristol Rovers and AFC Wimbledon have been unable to find a goal between them during a scrappy opening period at Kingsmeadow this afternoon.

Wimbledon went closest to breaking the stalemate when Rovers were caught napping at the back to allow striker Jack Midson the chance to latch on to a rudimentary long ball over the top in the 39th minute.

Midson ghosted between Tom Parkes and Mark McChrystal and managed to round goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall, but his attempts to convert were thwarted by retreating defenders and his shot was eventually blocked.

The opening 20 minutes, meanwhile, had been one of attrition as both sides' desire to scrap to gain the upper-hand took preference over the production of any quality.

Wimbledon did manage to carve out what could be described as the first chance, but George Francomb's header at the far post was easily claimed by Mildenhall.

Rovers were presented with their first 'chance' from a Michael Smith's long throw in the 24th minute, but when the ball fell kindly in the penalty area, John-Joe O'Toole slashed at it wildly and it ended up in the car park.

On-loan Crystal Palace striker Kwesi Appiah then pulled a shot wide after a neat turn to evade the attentions of Tom Lockyer before Sean Clucas aimed an effort from distance straight at goalkeeper Ross Worner at the other end.

Wimbledon showed plenty of desire to attack from the wings and Lockyer had to be alert to clear the ball from under the crossbar off his head on a couple of occasions before Midson was unable to tuck away the best chance either side had crafted.

Francomb rippled the top of the net when firing an effort from distance over the crossbar before the referee brought a less-than-enthralling opening period to an end.

Earlier, Clarke had made one enforced change to his side after Danny Woodards failed to recover from the knock to his knee that forced his early withdrawal at Bury on Tuesday night.

He was replaced in the back three by Tom Lockyer and, as a result, Seanan Clucas came into a three-man midfield. Chris Beardsley was considered fit enough to make a return to the bench.

Rovers (3-5-2): Mildenhall; Lockyer, Parkes, McChrystal; Smith, Clucas, O'Toole, Clarke, Brown; Harrold, Mohamed. Subs: Gough, Clarkson, Harrison, Harding, Gillespie, Beardsley, Santos.

AFC Wimbledon (4-4-2): Worner; Fuller, Jones, Antwi, Richards; Francomb, Morris, Pell, Sweeney; Midson, Appiah. Subs: Arthur, Brown, Sainte-Luce, Hylton, Moore, Wyke, Nicholson.

Referee: T Robinson