Rovers were unable to make it a hat trick of wins on the road following a frustrating 3-0 defeat at Plymouth.

The Pilgrims went in front through Finn Azaz’s deflected strike and wrapped up the victory after a quickfire double from Ryan Hardie and Luke Cundle in the second half.

Rovers had a number of opportunities at the other end but failed to make them count against last season’s League One winners.

Tomasson made three changes from the side that won at Watford a weekend prior, with Harry Pickering replacing the injured Joe Rankin-Costello.

Pickering returned to action at Harrogate after serving a one-game suspension following his sending off against Hull.

Sam Gallagher came into the starting line-up against the club he had a spell with as a youngster. The forward got an hour under his belt in midweek and managed to get on the scoresheet.

Andy Moran was also handed a first league start following his loan move from Brighton. Harry Leonard and Tyrhys Dolan both dropped to the bench.

Rovers started brightly, keen to get on the front foot and dictate the player after taking a slightly different approach at Vicarage Road.

Ryan Hedges should have opened the scoring after six minutes but failed to hit the target from 12 yards out. The Welshman produced a moment of magic against Watford but his finishing let him down on this occasion.

Sam Szmodics also sent an effort over the bar as Rovers continued to attack with purpose and cause the Plymouth backline problems.

Gallagher then had a header tipped over the bar by Conor Hazard after getting on the end of Hedges’ floated cross.

The hosts grew into the game as the first half went on and Aynsley Pears was forced to push Bali Mumba’s header around the post.

Plymouth went ahead through a stroke of luck after Aston Villa loanee Azaz saw his shot deflect off a couple of bodies and wrong-foot Pears.

Szmodics had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Stephen Martin after tangling with Pleguezuelo in the box as Tomasson’s side looked for an immediate response.

Morgan Whittaker looked lively in the final third and managed to skip past Dom Hyam, but he couldn’t find a way past Pears from a tight angle as the action continued to come thick and fast at both ends of the pitch.

The youngster went for goal again from distance on the stroke of half time. His effort seemed to be heading just wide but the Rovers goalkeeper took no chances, pushing the ball behind for a corner.

Tomasson was forced into a change at the break, with Hyam making way for Scott Wharton. The centre-back seemed to be in a bit of discomfort at the end of the first half.

Plymouth looked to pick up where they left off after the break, with Pears saving Hardie’s initial effort before the attacker fired over from the rebound.

Rovers also looked threatening, with Hayden Carter’s header creeping just wide of the post as Hazard scrambled to his left.

Hedges then won back possession in a dangerous area and teed up Szmodics on the edge of the area, but the midfielder dragged wide.

Rovers also gave the ball away cheaply in their own half but Adam Randell couldn’t keep his shot down after pouncing on a loose pass.

Tomasson turned to the bench to add an injection of pace in the final third, with Leonard and Dolan replacing Gallagher and Moran.

Leonard was immediately involved in the action but couldn’t quite get on the end of an inviting cross by Pickering.

Midway through the second half, Hardie missed another decent opportunity after Mumba had combined with Callum Wright.

Hedges then picked out Lewis Travis in the box but the Rovers skipper took to long to pull the trigger, allowing a defender to get a foot in and the ball clipped the top of the bar.

Tomasson must have been wondering how his side hadn’t scored after getting into a number of good positions against the Pilgrims.

Dolan also tried his luck after combining with Travis, but his strike was held by Hazard as time continued to slip away from Rovers.

And Tomasson’s men were hit by another sucker punch when Hardie slotted home after Pears had initially kept out Wright’s shot.

Things got even worse moments later when Cundle looped the ball over the helpless goalkeeper after he had rushed out of his goal to head clear.

It was a harsh scoreline based on the chances Rovers had created, but the Championship can be an unforgiving league.

Tomasson and his squad will have plenty of time to reflect on the result heading into the international break, and perhaps the amount of time they have spent on the road in the past week finally took its toll.

Pears, Brittain, Hyam (S Wharton 46), Carter, Pickering, Travis (Garrett 79), A Wharton, Szmodics, Hedges (Bloxham 79), Gallagher (Leonard 62), Moran (Dolan 62). Unused: Wahlstedt, Gamble, Gilsenan, Tronstad