BURNLEY boss Eddie Howe will console himself with the fact that results don’t matter in pre-season, but almost everything that could go wrong, did last night.

The Clarets opted for a double training session in favour of travelling on Monday, and instead ventured to the south west on the morning of their friendly with newly relegated Bristol Rovers.

A six-mile hold-up on the M6 southbound led to a late arrival in their Bath base, and almost a delayed kick-off at the Memorial Stadium.

Burnley, whose sale of Chris Iwelumo to Watford was completed yesterday morning, made a bright start nevertheless with a 4-2-3-1 formation which gave room for manouevre.

They could have been a goal up after a minute had it not been for the post denying Martin Paterson on the back of Chris McCann’s mis-hit.

But the Clarets’ early promise faded fast as fatigue from the journey set in and Bristol Rovers took over.

Chris Eagles had begun in a central role, just ahead of Dean Marney and McCann, with Alex MacDonald to his left and Wes Fletcher to his right. But there were loose passes in midfield, which allowed the Gas to break.

New Burnley defender Ben Mee got his head to Joe Anyinsah’s right wing cross, but from the corner Matt Gill found Matt Harrold unmarked, and the striker sidefooted past Brian Jensen.

The Dane had to come to Burnley’s rescue soon after, his outstretched leg denying Scott McGleish at the end of Gill’s free kick into the box.

McGleish went close again soon after, almost capitalising on some ragged defending before a last-ditch clearance.

In his first game since completing a season-long loan deal from Manchester City, Mee did well to divert Anyinsah’s delivery before the goal, but there were moments of uncertainty among the back four, which allowed the Gas too much time on the ball in the box, and led to periods of panic.

Burnley breathed a sigh of relief in getting to the break only a goal down, but the start of the second half was just as troublesome for the rearguard as left back Danny Fox was lucky to avoid conceding a penalty after appearing to bring down substitute Ben Swallow.

MacDonald and Fletcher had shown some good touches but found themselves with more to do against the ball before the break, were replaced by Wade Elliott and Ross Wallace at half-time.

Seven replacements followed midway through the second half, but Burnley barely got a sight of goal, and by the time of their introduction the Clarets had conceded again as Gas substitute Eliot Richards was put through in a one-on-one with Jensen – one of only two players to be given the full 90 minutes – and scored.

A stunning Wallace left foot effort from 25 yards was cruelly denied by the crossbar, while Eagles struck a decent chance narrowly wide before his exit.

Jensen made a smart save from Rovers substitute Wayne Brown’s free kick to avoid conceding a third, before Jay Rodriguez created an opening and stung Scott Bevan’s hands.

At the halfway stage of the pre-season games, there is work to do for Burnley, who were bettered by a Bristol Rovers side looking to bounce back to League One at the first attempt.

BURNLEY: Brian Jensen; Tyrone Mears (Kevin Long 67), Michael Duff (Andre Bikey 67), Ben Mee (David Edgar 67), Danny Fox (Brian Easton 67); Dean Marney (Marvin Bartley 67), Chris Eagles (Jay Rodriguez 67), Chris McCann; Wes Fletcher (Ross Wallace 46), Martin Paterson (Charlie Austin 67), Alex MacDonald (Wade Elliott 46).

Unused substitutes: Lee Grant, Jon Stewart, Steve Hewitt.