The 1997–98 season saw Bristol Rovers reach the playoff places, finishing in 5th place and despite taking a first-leg advantage of 3–1 against Northampton Town, Rovers subsequently lost 3–0 in the second leg and went out 4–3 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Source: Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Bristol Rovers' score comes first [ 2]
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorers
9 August 1997
Plymouth Argyle
H
1–1
7,386
Hayles
16 August 1997
York City
A
1–0
3,307
Hayles
23 August 1997
Carlisle United
H
3–1
6,044
Bennett , Hayles , Penrice
30 August 1997
Burnley
A
0–0
9,887
2 September 1997
Bournemouth
A
1–1
5,550
Cureton (pen)
9 September 1997
Walsall
H
2–0
6,225
Ramasut , Hayles
13 September 1997
Gillingham
H
1–2
6,572
Hayles
20 September 1997
Chesterfield
A
0–0
5,309
27 September 1997
Oldham Athletic
A
4–4
5,990
Beadle (2), Hayles , Cureton (pen)
4 October 1997
Wrexham
H
1–0
6,829
Ramasut
14 October 1997
Watford
H
1–2
8,110
Penrice
18 October 1997
Wycombe Wanderers
A
0–1
5,836
21 October 1997
Brentford
A
3–2
3,967
Hayles (2), Beadle
25 October 1997
Blackpool
H
0–3
6,183
1 November 1997
Northampton Town
A
1–1
7,264
Cureton
4 November 1997
Bristol City
H
1–2
7,552
Tillson
8 November 1997
Fulham
H
2–3
6,166
Penrice (2)
18 November 1997
Preston North End
A
2–1
7,798
Penrice , Alsop
22 November 1997
Southend United
A
1–1
3,653
Beadle (pen)
29 November 1997
Millwall
H
2–1
5,542
Beadle , Hayles
2 December 1997
Wigan Athletic
A
0–3
2,738
12 December 1997
Grimsby Town
H
0–4
4,801
20 December 1997
Luton Town
A
4–2
5,266
Cureton , Hayles (2), Beadle
26 December 1997
Walsall
A
1–0
6,634
Beadle
28 December 1997
Bournemouth
H
5–3
7,256
Beadle (3), Hayles (2)
10 January 1998
Plymouth Argyle
A
2–1
6,850
Cureton , Hayles
17 January 1998
Burnley
H
1–0
7,208
Cureton
24 January 1998
Carlisle United
A
1–3
5,725
Cureton
31 January 1998
Gillingham
A
1–1
5,593
Cureton (pen)
7 February 1998
Chesterfield
H
3–1
5,481
Bennett , Cureton (2)
14 February 1998
Wrexham
A
0–1
3,716
21 February 1998
Oldham Athletic
H
3–1
5,789
Hayles (2), Ramasut
24 February 1998
Wycombe Wanderers
H
3–1
5,805
Hayles , Beadle , Ramasut
28 February 1998
Watford
A
2–3
12,186
White , Cureton
3 March 1998
Fulham
A
0–1
6,843
7 March 1998
Northampton Town
H
0–2
6,535
10 March 1998
York City
H
1–2
4,289
Ramasut
14 March 1998
Bristol City
A
0–2
17,086
21 March 1998
Preston North End
H
2–2
5,278
Cureton (pen), Hayles
27 March 1998
Southend United
H
2–0
5,323
Tillson , Hayles
4 April 1998
Millwall
A
1–1
5,635
Zabek
10 April 1998
Wigan Athletic
H
5–0
6,038
Hayles , Ramasut , Beadle (3)
13 April 1998
Grimsby Town
A
2–1
5,484
Hayles (2)
18 April 1998
Luton Town
H
2–1
8,038
Beadle , Tillson
25 April 1998
Blackpool
A
0–1
7,057
2 May 1998
Brentford
H
2–1
9,043
Cureton , Hayles
Second Division play-offs
edit
Round
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg
12 August 1997
Bristol City
A
0–0
9,341
R1 2nd Leg
26 August 1997
Bristol City
H
1–2 (lost 1–2 on agg)
5,872
Alsop
[ 3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Transfers in: £400,000
Transfers out: £30,000
Total spending: £370,000