Jon Dahl Tomasson says Rovers should have had a penalty for handball – but wanted to instead focus on his side’s failings than the decisions of the officials.

Sam Szmodics’ shot looked to have been blocked by the outstretched arm of Dwight Gayle on the stroke of half time with the score at 2-0.

Referee Matthew Donohue was well placed, but waved away the appeals, as he did at the other end when Will Smallbone went down under the challenge of Dom Hyam moments before Stoke’s second goal.

Tomasson accepted that it was a big moment in the game, but didn’t want to labour the point too much, instead turning the focus to his side’s display.

They went into the break two goals down after a Ki-Jana Hoever brace and then trailed by three as Tyrese Campbell added a third with 15 minutes remaining.

Rovers added some respectability to the scoreline, and even threatened a late comeback, thanks to goals from Ben Brereton and Sam Gallagher.

But they fell to only a second defeat in 2023 at the bet365 Stadium in a blow to their top six hopes.

Asked if his side should have had a penalty, Tomasson said: “We probably could, yeah.

“It’s of course a moment that decides a game, but at the end of the day we should look at ourselves.

“It was a handball, it wasn’t football, almost basketball, so I think that says enough.

“But we shouldn’t only look at that, we should look at ourselves which wasn’t good enough first half.

“The third goal, that was the only thing we can complain about (in the second half), because the third goal was too easy.”