First-year scholar Charlie Thompson was left frustrated by the manner of his side’s narrow loss against Rotherham United in the EFL Youth Alliance League.
Despite being left disappointed by defeat, Thompson felt his side showed encouraging signs in their performance against the Millers.
Thompson said: “We initially started well in the first couple of minutes with how we were playing with the ball but then unfortunately one long ball over the top has been our undoing.
“It’s a really unfortunate bounce from our point of view and it’s fallen right on to the striker’s head and he’s flicked it over Jacob and in off the post and sometimes there’s not a lot we can do in those situations.
“From the off though we said if things like that happen we just have to keep going and just play our football because we know how they go about their business."
Despite beginning his scholarship with Rovers in July 2023, an extended spell on the sidelines has only just seen Thompson pick up regular minutes for Frank Sinclair’s side and the striker was pleased to finally get into the action.
He added: “It’s been a tough time really for me. I had a really long injury that kept me out for a year and then I came back and got another one straight away.
“It was hard but I got my head down and now I’m just happy to be on a football pitch again so I can get more minutes in and really kick on.
“It’s great being able to work with everyone here, all the staff have the knowledge and experience here and Frank’s obviously played at the highest level."