Full-time: Bristol Rovers 0 Peterborough United 1

Bristol Rovers' play-off hopes took a major blow as Aaron Mclean's 70th-minute goal separated the sides at the Memorial Stadium, writes Nathan Jones.

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 ten 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 forced the first save out of Lewis on 50 minutes but again Lambert's strike from distance was hopeful rather than testing.

Mackail-Smith again proved a threat on the break for Posh and he then teed up Dean Keates but Byron Anthony blocked his shot.

Then Mackail-Smith set up McLean only for the former Grays man to pull his effort wide from a good position.

But Rovers were not to heed the warning and when the ball broke to Mclean again on 70 minutes he turned well and slotted a low shot across Phillips to break the deadlock.

The Pirates had a chance to hit back straight away but sub Jo Kuffour's shot was dragged wide.

The other sub, Stuart Campbell, hit a daisy-cutter that bobbled into Lewis' arms as Rovers became more desperate to get back on terms.

Steve Elliott glanced a Campbell free kick wide of the far upright and Pipe headed Jacobson's cross wide of the near post.

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Phillips; Lescott, Anthony, Elliott, Jacobson; Pipe, Disley, Lines (Campbell 66), Hughes (Rigg 83); Lambert, Duffy (Kuffour 66). Subs not used: St. Louis-Hamilton, Hinton.

Peterborough (4-4-2): Lewis, Martin, Lee, Westwood, Williams (Blackett 90); Whelpdale, Coutts, Keates, Boyd; Mclean, Mackail-Smith. Subs not used: McKeown, Blanchett, Torres, Batt.