Gary McSheffrey said he was left frustrated with Plymouth Argyle defeat after his side put in a good performance but failed to convert chances into goals.
Rovers took a deserved lead when Branden Horton popped up in the right place at the right time to capitalise from close range after a scintillating opening period for the home side, but Luke Jephcott got the visitors level before the break and goals from Joe Edwards and Jordon Garrick in the second half sealed defeat at the Eco-Power Stadium.
On defeat to Plymouth Argyle:
“We started really well and created some good opportunities, but we’ve got to put those away.
“It’s another learning curve for the players because when you’re on top and you’re creating chance after chance, you’ve got to put two or three away.
“We got ahead and then stopped doing what we’d been doing to get us there. We were dropping a bit deeper, and we let them play forward too much, but we finished the half strongly and could have scored a couple more near the end.
“Tommy Rowe’s then unlucky when he hits the post, and we create a few more in the second half where we probably should have scored and then they’ve taken their couple of chances.
“We were a bit weak for the goals which disappointed me, but there are lots of positives from the first half performance and from stages of the second half.”
On keeping belief:
“I’ve told the players not to let their heads go down.
“They’ve got in good positions to score and we’re creating chances. They’ll be another game where things go for us, and we’ll score four or five.
“It’s not going to be easy. We’re going to have to do it the hard way because we’re playing against big teams but if we’re playing like that, I think we’ll create a few shocks along the way.”
On debutants Mipo Odubeko, Adam Clayton and Ben Jackson:
“Mipo was sharp. He plays off the shoulder and he had some good chances in the first half.
“He’s disappointed he hasn’t scored. He put his laces through a couple. He’s a real threat and when he buries one, I expect him to go on a good run.
“Ben looks technically good, he drives with the ball well. He’s got good delivery and end product.
“We saw a few glimpses of what he can do. He gets forward well and has a good left foot. It was an area where we felt we needed a second option.
“We put Clayts on at the end to try and add a bit of steel in there to sure up the midfield up a bit.”
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