Josh Davison opened the scoring just before the break, Jamille Matt adding a second from the spot in the second half.

Mark Cooper, with Newport's challenging surface in mind, made three changes to the side that beat Oldham Athletic on Tuesday night.

Aaron Collins and Odin Bailey made way for Dom Bernard and Matt, while Jordan Moore-Taylor came in for the injured Dan Sweeney.

It certainly wasn’t one for the footballing purist, with both sides struggling to carve out any clear opportunities for much of the first half.

The hosts went close after 11 minutes as Dom Telford rose highest in the box, but couldn’t head former-FGR man Liam Shephard’s cross under the bar.

Former-Newport man Jamille Matt had his first chance of the afternoon just three minutes later as he latched onto Davison’s through ball before sweeping an early strike wide of the near post.

The best chance of the half fell the way of Charlton Athletic loanee Davison, but his left-footed volley was cleared off the line after an intelligent Baily Cargill cut-back.

Davison, who ran tirelessly throughout, saw his efforts rewarded on the stroke of half time.

Matt hooked a delightful ball down the line for Davison to chase. He obliged, before beating his man with a step over before firing home from the edge of the area.

The second half started in much the same way as the first, the pitch preventing any moments real quality.

Just after the hour mark, Rovers were presented with a brilliant opportunity to double their advantage, while Newport were left cursing the sticky playing surface.

Matt was first to react to a short back pass, and nipped in to steal it off the toes of keeper Nick Townsend, who wiped him out.

The front man stepped up to the spot and confidently dispatched his 11th goal of the season, sending the keeper the wrong way.

The Exiles piled on the pressure, but with the Rovers defence back to their brilliant best, there was simply no way through.