TONY Mowbray reflected on a frustrating day for his Rovers side as they were held again by Northampton Town.

For the second time in five weeks Rovers were unable to force a late winner against the Cobblers as Danny Graham cancelled out John-Joe O’Toole’s opener.

Mowbray was left disappointed by the officials who he felt allowed the visitors to ‘puncture’ the game with their timewasting, but praised his players for giving everything to force a late winner.

Of Rovers’ equaliser 16 minutes from time, Mowbray said: “It felt like it was coming and we needed to keep going, keep asking questions and keep the pressure on and it felt like we would score.

“We talked about scoring one earlier than we did and then hopefully going on and scoring two or three.

“It wasn’t to be.

“I thought it was a fantastic effort, the performance level was right up there with what we’ve been producing, we just didn’t have the goals.

“There were enough balls whizzing across their six yard box for us to score, anticipating, putting ourselves in the right positions, it was just one of those days where it didn’t fall for us.

“There were a few things that got blocked, they had a lot of men in their box and it’s difficult at times to break down that.

“We persevered, gave it everything we’ve got, reduced them to a few opportunities but we’re disappointed.

“We have to take it, 17 unbeaten, we move on and keep believing and move on to Tuesday (against Walsall).”

Northampton took the lead in the 12th minute as John-Joe O’Toole was allowed to head home from six yards out as Rovers were caught on the break in.

It was a goal which Mowbray was disappointed by, particularly given it was the only shot on target managed by the visitors.

He added: “We’ve talked about O’Toole and his physicality, I don’t think we did enough to stop the cross I would have to say but apart from a volley at the back stick over the bar I don’t think they had another shot at goal.

“It felt like a defeat, and rightly so, they worked hard and deserved better.

“I have no problems with the way Northampton played, it’s football and sometimes you have to do that.

“I just wanted the officials to gee it up a little bit but it’s not his fault we drew 1-1, it was the fact we didn’t finish off our opportunities.

“I think the defensive substitution never helps in a game like this, it was an extra option that wasn’t there, whether it be a (Joe) Nuttall to throw on and have extra bodies in the box and some more physicality when the ball was coming in.

“I thought the performance level was high, the concentration behind the ball was good, the central defenders did well apart from their goal.”

On referee Anthony Backhouse, Mowbray added: “I think the officials punctured the game too much, kept stopping and if he had booked the goalkeeper on 50 minutes (for timewasting) then he doesn’t do it in the 70th, 80th or 90th minutes.

“I don’t want to be critical and blame the referee but he didn’t help our cause.

“Is it his job to help our cause? It’s his job to feel the game and keep it running, the supporters pay their money and want to see the game played not him posturing and calling players over and standing there with his chest stuck out.

“It was a frustrating day.”