Bristol Rovers 1 Yeovil Town 2: With two of their toughest games of the season to come in the next five days, the last thing Bristol Rovers wanted was a West Country derby defeat that stretched their losing run to three games – especially one that was largely self-inflicted.

After dominating what was generally a one-sided first half in terms of chances created, the Pirates finally made the breakthrough soon after the break, courtesy of Chris Dickson's fourth goal in six games.

But if that was supposed to point the way to three more points at the Memorial Stadium for the home side, Yeovil hadn't read the script.

The Glovers had ridden their luck at times before the interval, but struck twice in four minutes shortly after the hour mark, with the Pirates' defence found wanting as free-kicks from Andrew Welsh arched into their box.

Substitute Jonathan Obika had been on the field a matter of seconds, but promptly took advantage of a dead-ball melée to nod the visitors level. Shortly afterwards, Terrell Forbes was reacting with glee and disbelief as he capitalised on more defensive disarray to poke the winner past Mikkel Andersen and claim the first goal of a career spanning almost 350 league appearances.

"It seems Yeovil have some sort of jinx on me – I score against them and they win 2-1," said Dickson, who went through the same experience against the Glovers while on loan at Gillingham a couple of seasons ago.

"We're devastated to be losing to a side below us in the table, but after we got our goal we seemed to stop playing and didn't carry on the things that had helped us to open them up.

"They got two good deliveries in from free-kicks and two goals – the rest is history.

"Now we have got a massive week ahead and we need to get back to how we were playing when we had our winning spell a few weeks ago."

Dickson's goal arrived less than a minute after the interval when he fired high into the net from close range after Danny Coles had flicked on Stuart Campbell's delivery from a corner.

"It was a relief to score after two games without one, and I want to try and get back up to a goal-a-game ratio if I can. It's always good to score, although I'd much rather have the three points," said Dickson.

"The manager has eased me in with spells of 60 or 70 minutes. Now I know I can get through a full 90 and although I was blowing a bit by half-time, I felt rejuvenated in the second half. Now I'm raring to go.

"There's enough quality in our changing room to bounce back from this and get us into the top four, but Leeds tomorrow night is massive and, for me, the MK Dons game away on Saturday will be even harder."

Bristol Rovers' inability to convert their first-half pressure into goals was arguably just as costly as their defensive failings in the second period.

They started brightly and had the visitors under the cosh for much of the time, but Jeff Hughes failed to make the most of Carl Regan's cross from the right then scuffed horribly wide from eight yards with the net beckoning after latching on to Jo Kuffour's pass.

Yeovil's luck was in when Byron Anthony's header from a corner hit keeper Alex McCarthy midway through the opening period, and Chris Lines twice produced wayward finishes from good positions before being carried off with a leg injury just before the break.

Although Yeovil looked a threat when on-loan Spurs youngster Ryan Mason broke forward – he was involved in a penalty appeal which Glovers boss Terry Skiverton felt went against his side but looked tenuous – the best they could offer in the opening period was a 20-yarder from Scott Murray, which flashed wide.

Murray, almost inevitably, had been the target of stick from the home fans, who were cheering ironically when the former Bristol City man was substituted on the hour.

They were somewhat less noisy when his replacement Obika netted with his first touch of the game, and another free-kick from Welsh caused more mayhem shortly before the one that led to the winner.

Bristol Rovers huffed and puffed after that, but Yeovil fought hard not to relinquish a lead which may have flattered them, but which they could easily have increased as the home side chased the game.

Dickson fired a 20-yarder at McCarthy and the Glovers' keeper made a series of blocks and interceptions to protect their advantage, while Andersen had to make an important block to prevent Obika netting his second – and then was slightly fortunate in diverting Shaun McDonald's late attempt around an upright.