ROVERS got their League One campaign up and running after Dominic Samuel’s third goal of the season handed them a 1-0 win at Bradford City.

Samuel scored the only goal of the game, three minutes after half-time, after heading in a Craig Conway left-wing cross.

Rovers had further chances to extend their lead, but had to weather a late Bradford rally to hold on to valuable three points, ending the hosts’ 31 game unbeaten run at home in League One.

Tony Mowbray made three changes to his side, and switched formations, bringing in Craig Conway, Bradley Dack and Dominic Samuel.

Rovers were looking to be quick out of the blocks, and had the first shot at goal within the first minute.  Samuel’s effort, after collecting an Elliott Bennett cross, was blocked, but when the ball fell invitingly to Corry Evans, he flashed a half-volley just wide.

However, that didn’t bring about a glut of chances in the opening quarter, in what was an extremely competitive midfield battle.  Neither side was enjoying any real spell of possession, with niggling free-kicks given away by both sides stopping any rhythm being built up.

But after last weekend’s Doncaster defeat, it was good to see Rovers competing more, as Mowbray had wished.

The biggest concern for Rovers was set pieces.  They continued to offer Bradford the chance to swing balls in to their box, and after Rovers failed to deal with Tony McMahon’s 33rd minute delivery, Omari Patrick could only find the gloves of David Raya with his pot-shot.

Samuel was doing plenty of unselfish work for Rovers in attack, and had his first sight of goal nine minutes before the break, only to divert a Conway corner wide of the post on the stretch.

And Rovers would have the game’s first attempt on goal moments before the break, with Dack forcing a save from Colin Doyle as he shot on the turn from the edge of the box.

Rovers’ number 23 would have an even better opening shortly after, but couldn’t divert an attempt goalwards from inside the six yard box when he found himself unmarked as Bennett kept alive a Mulgrew free-kick.

Three minutes after thre re-start though Rovers were to take the lead through Dominic Samuel’s third goal of the season.  Bennett did well initially to run in behind, and he teed up Conway whose cross was diverted in to the bottom corner by Samuel after got across his man at the front post.

Rovers were becoming rampant, and pushed hard for a second which almost came when three players converged on a Bennett cross without able to apply the finishing touch.

Derrick Williams would then try his luck in the 57th minute, only for his drive to be deflected just wide of the target.

Pushing hard for a second, Rovers went close through a Ben Gladwin header in the 68th minute, moments after coming on, as he met another Conway delivery from the left.

Trying to turn the tide, Bradford made a triple change with 20 minutes to go, instantly lifting the crowd, with McMahon flashing a free-kick wide shortly after.

The crowd were roaring their team forward, with Raya forced in to his first real save with 14 minutes to go, easily dealing with a curling effort from Nicky Law.

The physical presence of Wyke in attack had made a difference for the hosts, and after he forced Ward to only nod in to the path of fellow sub Alex Jones, things opened up for the hosts.  But his effort was dragged wide of the target as Rovers survived.

They were standing firm to be a barrage of Bradford balls forward, with Matt Kilgallon firing over as a loose ball fell to him on the edge of the box as the seconds died down.

There were two late appeals for penalties from the hosts, both for handball against Evans and Peter Whittingham, but both were waved away, much to the disagreement of the Bradford players, and the majority of those in the ground.

But Rovers held on, and celebrated victory, in front of a joyous travelling support of 1,965.