The Terras took the lead at the Wessex Stadium through Pierre Joseph-Dubois but goals from Darryl Duffy and Joe Jacobson were enough to secure victory for the League One outfit, who fielded two different teams in each half.

Hollins said: "I don't think we'll get a tougher game than that in terms of two halves of football.

"But I was pleased we were still in there fighting and how we handled it against a side two divisions higher and one that reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last season.

"We have got to thank Bristol Rovers for bringing two very good teams down. We started well, got on top and got a goal. It was a bit fortunate but people make mistakes and you have to punish them.

"I thought we could have scored a couple more but I was very pleased with the way we moved the ball in both halves, a lot better than we have done for a long time."

Hollins was pleased with his goalscorer while defender Marcio dos Santos Gaia was removed on the hour as a precaution.

The manager added: "It was disappointing to lose Santos but he's got a bump on his head and it's too dangerous to keep people on.

"I like Joseph-Dubois a lot, he's like a leopard always prowling around and then he's off. But, if he had been a bit quicker on one occasion he might have got another goal."

After kick-off was delayed half an hour, due to Rovers being held up in traffic, it was the visitors who created the first opening of the game but Danny Knowles made a good stop to deny Sean Rigg eight yards out and the danger was cleared.

The Terras' first real effort on goal led to the opener on 20 minutes. Rovers' keeper Steve Phillips' throw out hit James Coutts and the midfielder chipped an effort towards goal with Phillips stranded but saw his attempt hit the crossbar.

Luckily though, the rebound fell to Joseph-
Dubois who was able to head home.

Rickie Lambert had an effort saved by Knowles before Joseph-Dubois almost grabbed a second.

The striker raced on to a pass from skipper Anton Robinson only to see his shot saved by Phillips and the loose ball fired over by ex-Rover Ryan Williams.

Five minutes before the break Bristol's summer signing Darryl Duffy wasted a good opportunity from Rigg's centre.

Duffy redeemed himself just two minutes later though, tucking the ball past Knowles following Lambert's through pass.

Phillips then parried an effort from Coutts as the first half drew to a close.

The Pirates returned for the second period with a brand new XI while Hollins stuck with the same side.

The first action saw substitute Josh Klein-Davies beat the challenge of Santos Gaia but not the far post.

Joseph-Dubois was proving lively and was inches away from connecting with Robinson's low cross after good build up play from the hosts.

But Rovers got their noses in front ten minutes from time when Jacobson fired in from just inside the area with his left-foot following Klein-Davies' pull back.