LUKE Beckett bagged a brace as Rovers suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The much-travelled striker scored a goal in each half as Mark Hughes' side slipped to a surprise defeat.

Rovers' only goal came with seconds remaining of the ninety minutes courtesy of Jason Roberts but it was too little too late for the side in red and black.

Watched on by new signing Roque Santa Cruz, Rovers started with an attacking 4-2-4 formation with wingers Bruno Berner and Maceo Rigters pushed right up alongside centre forwards Benni McCarthy and Paul Gallagher, but it was the home side who had the first chance at goal.

Just two minutes elapsed when midfielder Michael Collins burst through a static Rovers back line, but thankfully he dragged his effort wide of the far post with just Jason Brown to beat.

Three minutes later and it was Collins again who took advantage of some hesitant defending by captain Ryan Nelsen, his effort was closer to the goal than the previous one but still Brown wasn't troubled.

But with so many talented players on show for Rovers it was only a matter of time before they would create chances of their own, McCarthy, Rigters and Gallagher combined well but the Dutchman couldn't just get on the end of Gallagher's centre.

Maceo Rigters was then presented with the perfect opportunity to score his first goal in a Rovers shirt, Christopher Samba strode out of defence to thread the ball through to the young forward, he had just the Terriers' goalkeeper to beat but Glennon made a fine stop with his legs.

Rovers continued to press and probe, spraying passes around with ease, but it was the home side who had the greater chances, Jason Brown had to be alert to cut out a Danny Cadamarteri centre after the former Everton man had got the better of Nelsen.

Just past the midway point of the first half came Rovers best chance, the Lancashire side had been camped in the opposition half for an extended period of play, Tugay tried to chip the ball over the back line but the ball was returned to him, the Turkish international left fly in an instant, his excellent effort seemed destined for the top corner only for Glennon to pull off a stunning one handed save to deny the midfielder.

On 34 minutes it was Bruno Berner's turn to be through on goal after being fed by Gallagher, but again Glennon made the save, stopping the ball one handed to deny the Swiss international.

That would prove to be the former Basel player's last involvement in the game as five minutes later whilst under no pressure on the ball he fell to the ground with what appeared to be a foot injury, physio Dave Fevre immediately indicating that the left winger could no longer continue.

But with Rovers down to ten men Huddersfield took full advantage, Danny Cadamarteri looked to have pulled back Christopher Samba in the penalty area allowing Luke Beckett to nip in and steal the ball and fire past the helpless Jason Brown.

Morten Gamst Pedersen eventually replaced the injured Berner, he had a speculative effort just before the break but the flag was raised on the far side.

Mark Hughes made a triple change at the break, Jason Brown was replaced in goal by the bleach-blonde Peter Enckelman, whilst centre-half pairing of Nelsen and Samba was switched to Khizanishvili and Henchoz.

Finnish international Enckelman was quickly called into action, needing to be alert to claim a couple of high balls into his box, but it was his fellow Scandinavian colleague Morten Gamst Pedersen.

It was Matt Derbyshire who had been on the field of play for only a matter of seconds who drove the ball at goal, again Glennon in the Town goal was equal to his efforts but he could only palm the ball into the path of Pedersen on the left, he controlled the ball before somehow firing it the wrong side of the post.

Rovers very nearly regretted missing that chance as a cross from the Huddersfield right saw Luke Beckett rise high to head against the woodwork to the relief of the Rovers defence.

Mark Hughes used his final two substitutes with the introduction of David Bentley and Jason Roberts on 70 minutes, and the two combined for another chance for the team in red and black. Roberts threading the ball through to Bentley who drilled the ball across the six-yard box, but no Rovers boot could get on the end of the chance.

Derbyshire looked lively after his introduction, he latched onto a Robbie Savage knockdown to fire the ball forward, but it curled away from the impressive Huddersfield goalkeeper but also away from goal.

With just over ten minutes remaining the home side doubled their lead in controversial circumstances. It looked clear for all to see that Morten Gamst Pedersen was bundled to the ground when defending an Huddersfield attack, but nothing was given by the linesman who was mere yards away, this allowed Young to drill the ball low into the six yard box where Luke Beckett grabbed his and Huddersfield's second on the night.

With the game drifting towards an inevitable defeat for Rovers, the visiting fans were finally able to cheer a goal, with mere seconds left on the clock Jason Roberts beat his man down the left flank, cut inside into the penalty area and drove the ball at goal. For once Glennon didn't get enough on the ball, Roberts shot fierce enough to make its way through the 'keeper and loop into the back of the net.

Fireworks greeted the final whistle as the home side celebrated a famous victory, but you can't help feeling that Mark Hughes has bigger things on his mind with just the friendly match against Preston North End on Saturday before the big Premier League kick-off against Middlesbrough seven days later.

HUDDERSFIELD: Glennon, Hardy, Skarz, Mirfin, Clarke, Holdsworth (sub Young 66 mins), Collins, Kamara (sub Racchi 82 mins), Schofield, Cadamarteri (sub Worthington 66 mins), Beckett.

Subs not used: Eastwood, Berrett, Sinclair.

ROVERS: Brown (sub Enckelman 46 mins), Ooijer, Warnock, Nelsen (sub Khizanishvili 46 mins), Samba (sub Henchoz 46 mins), Tugay (sub Savage 60 mins), Rigters (sub Derbyshire 60 mins), Dunn (sub Mokoena 60 mins), Berner (sub Pedersen 41 mins), Gallagher (sub Bentley 70 mins), McCarthy (sub Roberts 70 mins).

Attendance: 6,901