Rovers head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson acknowledges it is hard to take positives from a defeat – but was pleased with many aspects of what he saw from his side against Middlesbrough.

Ryan Hedges put Rovers ahead after just six minutes and they were good value for their lead after an entertaining first half.

Rovers moved the ball at pace and created several good opportunities, with Sam Gallagher having two good chances to extend their advantage.

Yet the game hinged on 12 minutes of madness at the start of the second half, as Boro inflicted a fifth defeat in seven games on Rovers.

Marcus Forss levelled 30 seconds after the re-start, before John Buckley was sent off in a bizarre incident spotted by the linesman as he petulantly threw the ball at the head of Riley McGree.

The Australian international then compounded matters by volleying in what proved to be the winner just before the hour.

And Tomasson said: “First of all I thought it was disappointing to lose this game.

“I think if you look back at the whole 90 minutes we started the first half, played some excellent football, I think our fans enjoyed it, I heard that.

“We created chances, we should probably have been up by more than one goal.

“We played with intensity, were creative.

“We spoke at half time about starting well and the first 10 minutes of the second half changed the whole game

“Even with 10 men we were able to create opportunities, so we were in the game for the whole 90 minutes.

“It was a frustrating night for our fans which I understand.

“They saw some great football but will be disappointed.”

Boro set their stall out to attack which aided Rovers’ cause as they exploited the space in behind the visitors’ backline.

Hedges ran clear from a Buckley pass to put Tomasson’s side 1-0 up, while Gallagher’s two opportunities both came from counter-attacks, with Rovers moving the ball much quicker.

“We knew that the space was at the sides and in behind Middlesbrough and I thought we used that excellently,” Tomasson added.

“We moved the ball quickly, clever, had a lot of intensity and movement with the ball, I think we created some good opportunities and should have been up by more than one at half time.

“There were positives to see.”

That positive work was undone by the start to the second half however, as Rovers fell to a second successive defeat.

“The first 10 minutes of the second half a lot happened,” Tomasson added.

“We conceded a goal, we spoke about being ready at that time and they scored quite quickly.

“Goals come when you make mistakes, and after that, four or five minutes afterwards we got a red card.

“But we were in the game the whole way.”

With still no draw since April, Rovers have won 13 and now lost 12 of their 25 Championship matches.

Tomasson’s side have taken only six points from their last seven matches and lost four of their five games in all competitions since the resumption from the World Cup break.

Yet a philosophical Tomasson said: “I’ve said it when we win games, it will be a rollercoaster, and will be that way for most of the season.

“I was very happy with the first half and it’s difficult to sit here and say you’re happy with something when it’s been a frustrating night and losing the game, but I think it’s important that the players, the staff, our fans, join this project which is one of development and it’s important we do that together and that togetherness we need that.

“It’s always easier when you’re together.

“I felt the fans were behind us, they were probably more frustrated by some of the decisions, but they were really behind the team.”

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