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The Stoke-based front-runner saw his side off to a flying start to the season with two goals in the opening day victory at Dorchester.

But after following up with a 2-1 home win over Cambridge City, Rovers have since failed to score more than once in a game while Devaney has spent much of the time sidelined by a hamstring injury.

A return of just four goals from their last six outings suggests Rovers are experiencing a goal drought but Devaney, last season’s top scorer with 25, is sure the problem is only a temporary one.

He said this week: “I feel there’s goals in the team but at the moment we don’t seem to be getting that many chances and we’re snatching at them. What we’ve got to do is to start relaxing and not be afraid to miss.

“Simon Osborne will score goals for us, but I think he’s trying a bit too hard at the moment. They’ll come for him, Mark Hurst will chip in with a few, Paul Acklam will always score and I reckon I can get a few myself.

“We’re disappointed to be out of both cups so early in the season, especially the Trophy – I thought we could have had a good run in that. The performance against Goole was out of character with anything that’s gone before this season. We’ve shown we can compete but it’s a question of consistency. It’s no good playing well against Bromsgrove than losing to a poor side just because they work hard.

“We’ve got to concentrate on establishing ourselves in the top half of the league and take it from there. We’ve got a few injuries at the moment with Richard Denby out and one or two more struggling, but that’s going to give people like Chris Moore and Craig Weston their chance to come in and stake a claim.

“The important thing is that we keep creating chances. If we can be a bit more positive the goals will come. When you’re not taking your chances you’ve got to defend well and keep it tight at the back. We didn’t do that on Saturday and we paid for our mistakes.”