Yeovil 2 Bristol Rovers 2: WHEN it comes to making a quick impact from the bench, it would be hard to beat Jo Kuffour's contribution to this closely-contested derby.

With his new club in danger of suffering their fifth defeat on the trot, the former Bournemouth striker slammed home the goal that secured a valuable point for Bristol Rovers.

Kuffour had been on the pitch for less than two minutes when he capitalised on a good run by Aaron Lescott, firing home a first-time shot from 20 yards.

"It was my first touch of the game so I have to be happy with it," he said.

"Getting your first goal for a new club takes some of the pressure off your back and hopefully now I can push on and stick a few more in.

"I had chances in the previous game against Cheltenham but they didn't go in for me. Thankfully this one did."

Scoring goals has certainly not been a problem for Rovers this season – although keeping them out at the other end has proved somewhat more difficult.

So it was to prove again as early as the sixth minute when Terry Skiverton was left free from a corner to plant a firm header past Steve Phillips, although the visitors had already rattled the crossbar twice by then.

Chris Lines was the first to be thwarted when his attempt from outside the box hit the woodwork, and Rickie Lambert suffered the same fate with a header from a flag kick.

Yeovil, under the cosh early on, were boosted by their breakthrough and hit the woodwork themselves a few minutes later when Aidan Downes' cross deflected off Lescott, looped over Steve Phillips but bounced down off the underside of the bar.

Rovers came close to levelling when Lambert's header from another corner was tipped over the bar by Asmir Begovic, but the Scouser was not to be denied after 39 minutes when Skiverton handled inside the box, planting the resulting spot-kick into the bottom corner.

Yeovil, however, were to regain the lead in first-half stoppage time when the ball was worked towards the edge of the Pirates' box and the impressive Gary Roberts met it with a first-time shot which flew in.

The second period may not have been quite so incident-packed, but Kuffour's strike changed the complexion of the game and after that both sides had opportunities to pinch a winner.

Andrew Welsh somehow saw his shot squeezed wide in a goalmouth scramble for Yeovil, while the lively Kuffour was involved again when his pass allowed Craig Disley the chance to cut in towards goal, only for Roberts to make a vital intervention.

Then, with five minutes left, Kuffour glimpsed an opportunity for his second after a Stuart Campbell free kick fell to him in the box, but Lee Peltier got in a crucial block to prevent the ball reaching the goal.

Yeovil substitute Gavin Tomlin also had a late chance to grab glory but saw his attempt go the wrong side of the post in.

It was decent enough point for a Rovers side who have still to beat Yeovil in a league game, although Kuffour is not encumbered with bad memories of his previous visits to Huish Park.

"When I was with Torquay, I scored the winner here and set up another goal as well so it's a good ground for me," he said.

"Of course everybody wants to start matches but I've been in the game long enough to know that being on the bench is part of football.

"I missed pre-season training at Bournemouth because I had a hernia operation.

"But the gaffer knows what he's doing and I think he's trying to bring me in slowly. His training is very intense and is getting me into shape, so I feel like I'm getting up to speed.

"Rickie Lambert is playing superbly at the moment and Darryl Duffy is doing well too so if we can all gel together, then hopefully we can score goals."