ROVERS ended the season on a disappointing note after a 4-0 thrashing at Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

After the highs of emphatic victories at the Memorial Stadium recently, concerns about the team’s poor away form remain.

Since McGhee took over he is unbeaten in Bristol but his side have failed to claim three points in the last eight away games.

The convincing home form has given plenty of cause for optimism for a promotion push next season, but unless there is a major improvement away from the Mem it could be another season of under-achievement.

Aaron Downes, a normally solid and consistent performer, made uncharacteristic errors in defence and his display typified that of the team who may have thought they were already on holiday.

News of Danny Woodards’ broken leg capped off a bad day and we all wish him a speedy recovery as he is such an integral part of our defensive unit.

We hope too that Scott Bevan recovers well from wrist surgery and both players are fit to start the new season.

On the plus side, it was encouraging to see four second-year scholars offered professional terms by Rovers last week.

McGhee has spoken of the importance of youth team players breaking through and being given a chance and we can only hope that they make the grade and justify the faith being shown in them.

One of the four, Mitch Harding, made his Football League debut on Saturday after coming on as a substitute and hopefully that taste of first team football will continue his desire to improve and develop.

Work will now begin in earnest as McGhee fine-tunes his squad ready for next season.

At least wholesale changes like last summer are not needed but a couple of new faces would undoubtedly strengthen the side and increase hopes of a promotion push.

Off the field, Rovers’ plans for a new stadium continue to progress and we hope that by the time the first ball is kicked of the 2012-13 campaign that planning permission for the project will have been granted.

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