Colchester United 1 Bristol Rovers 0: Getting it right at both ends of the pitch is something that Bristol Rovers have found it hard to do with any degree of consistency in recent weeks.

So it was to prove again as they slumped to a fifth consecutive away defeat.

Despite conceding the only goal of a generally uninspiring encounter, the Pirates defended pretty well – something they had to do for large portions of the afternoon.

But as an attacking force they looked woefully impotent, managing only one on-target effort all game.

It was a point not lost on keeper Mikkel Andersen, who at least looked back on top of his form and was far busier than his Colchester counterpart, Ben Williams.

He played a big part in ensuring the margin of defeat was not greater by claiming many of the balls launched into the visitors' box, and also pulled off a couple of impressive stops.

"We've started to look more solid as a defensive unit with everybody doing their jobs and closing out crosses, which makes my job easier," said the Dane.

"We were solid at the back apart from one slip-up, but it was just one of those days.

"We were just disappointed that we weren't able to score – that's only the second time that's happened since I've been here. We need to sort that out and bounce back next week.

"It's a long season and there's still more than half of it left, but it's how we react to this defeat that's important."

Colchester set the tone pretty much from the outset and looked the more dangerous of the sides over the opening quarter.

They almost took the lead in the 11th minute when Magnus Okuonghae's downward header from a free-kick struck Andersen and had to be hacked away by the alert Chris Lines.

Anthony Wordsworth then wastefully put a hurried shot wide after having more time than he realised to get an effort on target

After surviving a spell of pressure, Rovers started to settle and come into the game more – although not to any great effect in the areas where it mattered.

Darryl Duffy found himself crowded out by Colchester's defence after a decent build-up and Dominic Blizzard was well off target with a 25-yarder.

It was the home side who continued to look the likelier to break the deadlock though, with Kevin Lisbie managing to kick thin air rather than the ball when well-placed inside the box.

An angled cross from Marc Tierney then had Andersen back-pedalling with the ball clipping the top of the crossbar before going out of play.

Colchester's goal came on the half-hour and stemmed from a throw-in.

The Pirates' back-line squandered the opportunity to clear as the ball came into their penalty box and Lisbie pounced to stroke home his 10th goal of the campaign from 12 yards.

The home side could have doubled their advantage two minutes later, but Andersen did well to block Wordsworth's shot with his legs.

Then keeper Williams was forced to make his only serious save of the game. Danny Coles missed his kick as Jo Kuffour delivered a cross from the right but the loose ball ran to Lines, who saw a firmly-struck shot beaten out.

Six minutes before the break, David Fox let fly from 25 yards – only for his shot to flash just wide of Andersen's right-hand post with the keeper at full stretch.

If the first half had been disappointing, then the second was even more so as both sides found it hard to create anything of real note.

The introduction of Ben Swallow from the bench at least gave the visitors a bit more gusto going forwards. But from one useful break, the youngster chose to feed Jeff Hughes rather than the unmarked Mark Wright – and the Northern Irishman was then let down by a heavy first touch.

As Rovers chased the game, Colchester could have added a second goal. Andersen made a fine save to keep out a close-range header from substitute Kayode Odejayi – although an offside flag had already been raised – and then performed more late heroics to thwart Tierney.

There was little doubt the home side deserved the points for an ebullient performance which owed much to their directness, size and physical strength. But it was Rovers' failings as an attacking force that gave Adie Boothroyd's side a comparatively comfortable afternoon.

"I've talked about those games when everything comes together and today was one of those.

"We put them on the back foot straight away and dominated the game," Boothroyd said

"People want us to play sexy football and so do I. But you can't play sexy football in November when the pitch is wet – you have to play both ways."