July heralded the arrival of a couple of new faces at Bristol Rovers.

The Pirates landed right-back Carl Regan from MK Dons. The former Everton trainee had also had spells with Barnsley, Hull, Chester and Macclesfield.

He was followed into the club a week later by former Watford midfielder Dominic Blizzard, recruited from Stockport County – although illness meant he was to miss much of the club's pre-season build-up.

Unlike the previous year, Rovers managed to avoid too many injury worries during their warm-up for the new campaign. But central defender Steve Elliott was a casualty and was ruled out for the opening weeks.

The goalkeeping position had been in the spotlight with Steve Phillips declared surplus to requirements and Rhys Evans signing a one-yeal deal. But the gloves were to go to giant Newcastle shot-stopper Fraser Forster.

Nevertheless, the season got off to a disappointing start with a 2-1 home defeat by Leyton Orient on the opening day, Rickie Lambert scoring a consolation goal – and his last for the club.

For 48 hours later, the striker who had banged in 29 goals in the previous campaign was joining Southampton in a £1 million move, effectively trebling his wages in the process.

Gasheads feared his departure would see the side struggle – but instead they managed to string together a useful run of results.

A Carling Cup win over Aldershot was followed by successive away victories at Stockport and Hartlepool, and a notable home success over Huddersfield.

A mini-wobble then followed as Rovers were outplayed in the Carling Cup second round at Cardiff before slipping to a disappointing league defeat at Wycombe.

They then wasted chances galore as they went out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in a penalty shoot-out at Hereford.

After that, September was to prove a decent month for the Gas. Keeper Forster had departed to Norwich and replaced by another loanee, Reading's Mikkel Andersen, who made his debut as a depleted Millwall side were dismissed 2-0 at the Memorial Stadium.

Jo Kuffour then struck in the last minute to provide the only goal of their clash with Oldham.

On-loan striker Chris Dickson announced his arrival from Charlton in a dramatic debut, scoring twice and setting up another goal in a 3-1 win at Brentford.

Mark Wright, a winger recruited from Brighton, made his debut against his former club as the 10-man Seagulls went away from BS7 with a point from a 1-1 draw.

But the most memorable game of the month came at Southampton where Rovers twice fought back from behind – inevitably Lambert was on the scoresheet for the Saints – before clinching a dramatic stoppage-time victory thanks to a spectacular winner from super sub Andy Williams.

Little did the 3,000-strong contingent of travelling fans who were celebrating wildly on their first visit to St Mary's know it was to be the side's last win on the road in 2009.

The good run nevertheless saw Paul Trollope named as League One's manager of the month – but the infamous curse that goes along with the award was to strike instantly.

For on the day it was announced, the Pirates crashed to an ignominious 5-2 drubbing at Norwich City and October was to prove a month to forget.

Two 2-1 defeats – away at Southend and at home to Yeovil – were to follow, and Rovers were then comprehensively outplayed by Leeds, who triumphed 4-0 at the Memorial Stadium, before the month was rounded off by a 2-1 reverse at MK Dons.

Southampton's 3-2 FA Cup win in Bristol in early November made it seven defeats on the trot for Rovers, who then got back to winning ways as Chris Lines scored a last-gasp goal to secure a 3-2 home triumph over Carlisle. Lines netted again to help set up a comfortable 2-1 win over Gillingham, but Charlton then showed why they are among the promotion favourites by seeing off the Pirates 4-2 at The Valley.

December started with Rovers riding their luck as they sneaked past luckless Exeter 1-0 at home, but their Jekyll and Hyde home and away form was to continue through the month.

A toothless display at Colchester resulted in a 1-0 defeat, but that was in stark contrast to the West Country derby which saw Rovers score three inside the opening 34 minutes as Swindon were convincingly beaten at the Mem. But 2009 was to end with two more 2-0 away defeats – although in different circumstances. Another poor performance prompted an empty-handed return from Tranmere, although Rovers could count themselves somewhat unlucky to take nothing from their visit to Millwall after twice hitting the woodwork.