Danny Schofield felt decision-making cost his Rovers side in the narrow defeat to fellow top seven chasers Bradford City.
After a promising start to the second half, Rovers saw the game begin to slip away from them before Andy Cook netted the only goal of the game for the visitors.
And head coach Schofield felt Rovers did not make the right choices at key moments in order to wrestle control of the game.
Schofield on how the game played out:
“It’s obviously a disappointing result. I felt for 60 minutes that the game was in the balance, up until the goal and then there was a big momentum shift. We found it difficult then to get back into the game and create any more chances.
“The first half and at the start of the second half, I thought we were good value.
“I think we started the second half the stronger but then some decision-making and poor choices of passing resulted in them being more on the front foot. To concede from a set play was disappointing.”
On the manner of the goal conceded:
“We work a lot on set plays, collectively and as a staff so to concede from that set play was disappointing. It was a good ball and a good contact from their top goalscorer who has 20 goals for the season. We knew it was going to be a threat.
“Mitch [Jonathan Mitchell] has come out and made the decision to try to catch the ball. I’ve not seen it back at this stage but he could potentially have made the decision to punch the ball. I’m not too sure and we’ll discuss that with him. These moments happen.”
On the struggle to get back into the game:
“I think goals do change games. It’s an old adage. We tried to make some positive changes, starting just before the goal because I felt we were in the ascendancy. I felt like bringing Luke Molyneux on would add more attacking impetus to the game but we conceded straight after the substitution.
“Then we tried to be a bit more positive in going with a line of four and putting Caolan Lavery up with George Miller but I don’t think it affected the game in attack for us.
“In terms of creating chances and goalscoring opportunities, it was probably the lowest since I’ve been at the club. I think we had one big chance at 0-0 with the cutback to Kyle Hurst and that’s the only really good opportunity I can recall.”
On George Miller’s form in front of goal:
“We work intensely with all the players to help them try to improve their games and instil confidence with them. I’m sure it is playing on George’s mind - like any striker who doesn’t score goals, it will play on his mind.
“But he does so much for the team, as I’ve said before. How we press, how we want him to work, how he competes with physical centre backs. He adds a lot of value.
“It will be something he’s conscious of and it’s something we want him to improve on and we’ll work on that.”
On selection for the game:
“I sat down with Tom [Anderson] and he said he was ready to play. He was eager to play and that’s the kind of people we want. We discussed it with the physio. He was probably five to seven days ahead of where we expected him to be but if Tom declares he is fit, he is fit to play. He’s our captain and so he played.
“James Maxwell pulled up in training the other day complaining of pain in his quad. He’ll get that scanned and we’ll see how he is. It’s quite strange to see James pull out of a training session so we’ll see how he is.”
On the points haul in February:
“It’s been 50-50 for us. Win three and lose three. I think it’s been pretty much the story. The consistency is not there and that’s something we need to focus on and improve on.
“What’s left now? Fourteen games. What we don’t want is for the season to start sliding away from us. We want to be competing and aiming for those play-offs. As we always do, we reflect on and review this game and see what we can try to do better and try to implement that on the training pitch.
“As long as you’re there and you can see the points difference is not stretching away from you and you can see the team is competitive and performing to a good level then you can never say never.”