Bristol Rovers and Peterborough United played out an entertaining but goalless first half at the Memorial Stadium.

Rovers made just one change from the team that had drawn 1-1 at Crewe with knee injury victim Ryan Green dropping out for Joe Jacobson.

The hosts had the first shot in anger after six minutes but Chris Lines' 30-yarder flew 10 yards over the top. Then Darryl Duffy fired wide of the near post as he turned his man.

Lines then mis-hit a shot from a great position after a Rickie Lambert knockdown as Rovers started the stronger.

Rovers felt they should have had a penalty for a handball by Chris Westwood on 13 minutes but it wasn't given and George Boyd was able to counter-attack and win a free kick right on the edge of the hosts' box. Fortunately Paul Coutts' set piece came to nothing.

Boyd threatened again with a clever lob that Steve Phillips had to be alert to tip over for a corner before Charlie Lee's long ranger flew straight at the keeper.

But Phillips was tested more severely soon after when a long ball carved Rovers open and he blocked Craig Mackail-Smith's shot with his legs.

Rovers replied with a highly ambitious 40-yard lob from Lambert that went over with Joe Lewis desperately back-peddling.

Lambert then tried his luck from a free kick from an acute angle which, though well struck, sailed well wide.

At the other end Aaron Mclean set up Mackail-Smith but Phillips blocked his close-range poke.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Phillips; Lescott, Anthony, Elliott, Jacobson; Pipe, Disley, Lines, Hughes; Lambert, Duffy. Subs not used: St. Louis-Hamilton, Hinton, Campbell, Kuffour, Rigg.

Peterborough United (4-4-2): Lewis, Martin, Lee, Westwood, Williams; Whelpdale, Coutts, Keates, Boyd; Mclean, Mackail-Smith. Subs not used: McKeown, Blackett, Blanchett, Torres, Batt.