Bristol Rovers scored twice in the final 20 minutes to record a surprising 2-0 victory over League Two playoff hopefuls Burton Albion at the Memorial Ground this evening.

The visitors, who were sixth in the table prior to kickoff, failed to register a shot on target as Rovers' pressure paid dividends with second-half strikes from David Clarkson and John-Joe O'Toole.

Rovers defender Lee Brown was the only player to test either of the respective goalkeepers before the break as his smart curling shot forced Robert Lainton into tipping the ball around the post.

Kaid Mohamed set up Bristol striker Clarkson for a 21st-minute header which went into the side-netting, before striking wide himself after carrying the ball to the edge of the box from midfield.

Clarkson wasted another opportunity shortly after the interval as he slipped when positioned promisingly at the back post, but his luck in front of goal improved when he broke the deadlock on 70 minutes.

He met Michael Smith's cross to head his fifth of the season past Lainton, who fumbled a powerful Clarkson shot on 79 minutes to allow O'Toole to swoop and poke home the rebound from close range.

McGurk had moments earlier fired a good chance to equalise over the crossbar, an effort which summed up Burton's inaccuracy throughout a match in which none of their 10 shots was bound for the net.

The offside flag prevented Chris Beardsley from increasing Rovers' winning margin, but a 2-0 win was enough for the hosts to secure the three points which see them climb to 16th in the table.