Clinton Mola was disappointed his Bristol Rovers side left the Copperjax Community Stadium empty-handed after the Gas fell to a 1-0 defeat to Bromley.
The Sky Bet League Two leaders netted the only goal of the contest in the first half, with Will Hondermarck beating Brad Young from a tight angle. Bromley had the better chances in the first half, but the Pirates were stronger in the second.
The attacking trio switched, with Joe Quigley, Yusuf Akhamrich and Shaq Forde coming on. It was an effective alteration, with most of the play happening in Bromley's defensive third. However, Rovers could not find a leveller, with Joe Quigley lifting a golden chance over before Shaq Forde was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
Speaking to BRTV after the contest, Mola felt his team should have got something from the contest and was pleased with the way his team battled.
"It's disappointing," he said. "It's a tough one to take because we battled for large parts of the game. We started off slow; the first half wasn’t really great. We had some chances that we missed, and we weren’t really playing our game in the first half.
"But in the second half, I think we made some changes, and I think we won them, really putting the pressure on them, and we withstood their pressure as well, and then obviously the red card is just a moment of madness, and it was tough to get back in, but I think the boys battled well today.
"I felt like it [a goal] was coming. I feel like we had more territory in the right areas, and then getting in their half, making more passes, and looking more threatening."
No teams ever want to lose, but the Gas have certainly shown signs of progress under Steve Evans. Before the defeat to Bromley, Rovers had won three of their last four fixtures and have become much tougher to beat in recent weeks.
Both fixtures against Bromley in the league could have gone either way this season, with the Gas losing 3-2 at The Mem, which is one of the reasons why Mola was dissatisfied that they could not extend their string of positive results.
"That's what hurts us the most," he said. "We could have actually probably won both games that we played against them, but obviously, they are top of the league for a reason; they are good at what they do, and I think for large parts of the games we dealt with their threats. I think Tom Lockyer and Kofi Balmer were good at dealing with their nine as well, and it is just disappointing."
He later added, "We have definitely made progress, but we know, even in there speaking, we can’t get carried away, we can’t think that just because we won a few games that we are done.
"We still need to keep going, every game, every day in training, but there has definitely been a progression in the last few weeks, and we are looking better, we are playing better, we are more solid. Today, yeah, we are disappointed with the defeat, even though they are league leaders, we should have definitely got something from the game."
When you travel to the league leaders, the last thing you want is two players being ruled out of action on the morning of the game. That is exactly what happened to the Gas, with Tommy Leigh and Alfie Kilgour, who were star performers against Bromley, out through illness.
It forced Rovers into a couple of late switches to the team, but Mola refused to use it as an excuse.
"Obviously, it is tough, but we are a team for a reason," said Mola. "The gaffer told us that with these next games, he is going to have to use everyone; he has given people their chances today.
"So we knew that there were going to be changes, and obviously with Alfie and Tommy as well, it is not easy, but I think we dealt with it, we played well, especially in the second half, and we should have got something for the game."
The Gas will now turn their attention to their home fixture against Shrewsbury Town at The Memorial Stadium. The Pirates have been impressive at home, winning four of their previous five games on their own soil.
Mola knows how important the Gas' game is against the Shrews, with Gavin Cowan's men only four points and one place above Rovers.
"We've got a massive game on Tuesday at home, we're going to need that fan support again, then we've got a game on Saturday as well, so it is good that these games are coming thick and fast," he said. "We're going to have to use everyone, and we are going to have to be on it, and we have to try and get three points again.
"We know when on our patch, especially recently, we have been winning games back-to-back, and we have created a fortress. We are going to need everyone, and we're going to have to get three points."
