Jon Dahl Tomasson believes his players can respond to yet more heartbreak after seeing two points slip away in injury-time for the second game running.

Dom Hyam was the unfortunate defender to put through his own goal as Preston North End stole a point at the death at Deepdale.

Rovers had looked on their way to a priceless three points, after a much-improved second half display, having taken the lead nine minutes from time through Sam Szmodics’ goal.

But there was more late drama, denying Rovers the chance to move back into the top six, after Hyam’s late own goal. That came seconds after Ryan Hedges missed a golden chance to seal the victory, only to see his attempted chip over Freddie Woodman comfortably saved.

“Of course we’re disappointed, frustrated, that the result hasn’t gone our way,” Tomasson said.

“We worked extremely hard to get three points, the lads did a brilliant job.

“Unlucky with the kick that hits a player, but before that we should have buried the game, we all know that, with the chance we had just before.

“At this stage when you don’t get the three points, every point is important.

“We need to say thank you the fans, 5,000 here, brilliant crowd, it was a great atmosphere, typical derby game.”

Tomasson admits his players were low at the final whistle as they fell to their knees after another late goal conceded.

“They were low after the handball that cost us two points on Wednesday and you saw the performance today, which is impressive,” the head coach added.

“Those young boys are going like hell and doing the best for Rovers.

“They have done excellent all season and we should be really proud the players are doing such a good job.”

Rovers had a happy knack earlier in the season of seeing out 1-0 victories, but that has let them down in the last two.

And Tomasson said: “We should have done that, and we were defending well the whole game.

“It’s of course disappointing, but also football.

“We are performing much better now than when were seeing those games out and we’re not getting the results.

“If you keep performing like that over time you will get the results.

“It’s frustrating.”

The goal Rovers scored was a well-worked move, involving Adam Wharton and Lewis Travis before Szmodics applied the neat finish.

“It was an excellent goal, well deserved as well,” Tomasson said.

“We could have been more clinical, but when I see those players working that hard for Rovers I must admit it’s great to see.

“You can do mistakes on the ball, but we’re in an excellent position, no-one expected us to be here and we want to prove everyone wrong in this transition year.

“Three games to go.”

In the closing stages, Tomasson turned to his bench for a second time after Scott Wharton and Callum Brittain replaced Sam Szmodics and Tyler Morton.

On the reasoning for that, the head coach said: "Height, and the opponent was playing with four or five players up front, and that was the reason.

“We tried to press forward with three players up front, but conceded an unnecessary goal."