Rovers extended their unbeaten start to the Premier League 2 season to five games – but an injury to Joe Grayson overshadowed the 0-0 draw at West Ham.

Grayson, playing only his fourth match since spending a year on the sidelines with two separate muscle injuries, was taken off on a stretcher in the first half after receiving extensive treatment.

A game that was littered with injuries to both sides ended in a stalemate, with 12 minutes of additional time required at the end of the first half.

Much of that was owing to the treatment received to Grayson, though West Ham themselves had to substitute two players because of injuries in the opening half.

While the hosts hadn’t tasted victory in their opening four matches, Rovers went into the game as one of only three sides with unbeaten starts, and maintained that when the final whistle blew at Rush Green.

There were positives, not least a clean sheet for Antonis Stergiakis on his first appearance for the club after his move from Bulgarian side Slavia Sofia.

The pick of his saves came in the 62nd minute when winger Sean Adarkwa went through, with the Greek ‘keeper doing well to deny him with his feet, diverting the shot around the post.

He did need the post to come to his rescue as again Adarkwa proved to be the dangerman, rounding Stergiakis, but with Sam Barnes covering on the line, his shot came back off the outside of the post.

There was also a first appearance since an impressive display in the pre-season friendly with Leicester City for Tyler Magloire who has also had a tough time with injuries in 2020.

A game that wasn’t one for the purists saw Rovers twice go close, despite some threatening play, with Connor McBride unable to take his sequence of scoring to five games.

The Scottish frontman hit the side netting with an effort four minutes before the break, with his clearest opportunity coming 18 minutes from time, only for the teenager to fail to get the correct contact from six yards out as he headed over the bar.

Rovers are next in action when they host Arsenal on November 6 (7pm).

Rovers: Stergiakis, Carter, Magloire, Grayson (Barnes, 24), Thompson, Annesley, Whitehall, Paton (Pike, 80), Burns (Saadi, 58), McBride