Kamil Conteh stated the players did everything they could after Bristol Rovers’ 0-0 draw with Crawley Town at The Memorial Stadium.
The Gas were playing their fourth consecutive game in all competitions at home, extending their unbeaten run to three games, but missed chances to claim all three points after a dominant first half.
Isaac Hutchinson crashed the bar in the opening few minutes and had a one-on-one effort saved by Connal Trueman, either side of the goalkeeper tipping Luke McCormick’s flicked header onto the woodwork. Scott Sinclair also had an opportunity after the break but lifted his first-time shot off target.
Conteh took the positives from the game but insisted that the players were left frustrated at the end of the game.
“We did everything we could," he said. "It’s just that the final bit did not come for us today. We just have to move on and go to the next game next week.
“If you go back to the games previously in terms of how we played, like the Reading game when we went a man down and games before that. When we’ve played a bit and got through, the chances have been there, and sometimes we’ve scored from them.
“Just today, it didn’t come for us. As players, we’re frustrated, and everyone else will be, but we’ve got to look at the positives and go again.”
Conteh has been a vital part of Matt Taylor’s team this season and has started 13 of Rovers’ 15 games in the third tier this campaign and has formed a strong partnership with Jamie Lindsay at the heart of the team.
The former Grimsby Town man said that they look to work together effectively and is leaning from the Scotsman, who is eight years older than him and has Championship experience with Rotherham United.
“We try and balance off each other as much as we can,” said Conteh. “If I get on the ball, he can go forward. If he gets on the ball, I try and go forward. He’s a good player, and we link up very well.
“I’ve learned to stay concentrated all the time. As a young player, I’m not saying I switch off, but it can be easy to just lose concentration in games. But he’s always on me for getting second balls, doing this and doing that. I would say that’s what I’ve learned a lot.
“He’s always shouting at me, but it’s being a good team-mate and looking after me. I take it in good stride.”
Conteh joined the Pirates in January 2024 and has displayed plenty of potential since then. The midfielder is getting regular minutes at the heart of the team despite only being 21 years old. He stated that he is learning from playing every week and added he wants to add goal contributions to his game.
“I would say, personally, I am doing all the right things in terms of being in and out of possession, tactically and technically. Now it’s just about goals and assists,” he said.
“Everything else in terms of how I train and how I play, I’m happy. I would say compared to last season, before I came here, I would say I was still learning.
“I’ve started to get to grips with what playing week in and week out in men's football is like. I feel like I’ve taken it in good stride, and every day I just have to want the best, train every day at 100 per cent.”
