Goalkeeper Ryan Allsop was left frustrated following Derby County’s 4-1 defeat against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
An own goal from Lee Buchanan put Boro ahead in the opening 15 minutes of the game, but Derby responded well and got back into the contest as Max Bird volleyed into the corner to net his second goal of the campaign from distance.
However, two goals right before half time took the game away from the Rams as Aaron Connolly’s deflected strike and Matt Crooks’ close range tap in all-but sealed all three points for the home side.
Boro did add a fourth as Derby chased the game late in the second half as Duncan Watmore scored after coming off the bench and it was enough to put the gloss on the result as the Rams fell to a heavy defeat.
“I think they got a couple of lucky goals in the first half to swing the momentum in their favour,” Allsop told RamsTV.
“It’s a frustrating one and a hard one to take, nobody likes to concede four goals and lose a game so it’s important we don’t dwell on it too much.
“We need to address the video, see what went wrong and how we could have changed that and look forward to the game against Peterborough United next week.”
He added: “It was a great goal from Birdy to get us level. I think we have showed this season that our reaction to whatever is thrown at us, again today, in getting the goal and we had a sucker-punch with their goal and that got their tales up and gave them the momentum in the game.
“It was about how we then swing the momentum back but unfortunately we didn’t manage to do that.
“Whenever you concede, that close to half time, it’s a big sucker punch. It’s how we react and I thought we played some decent stuff today.
“They hit us on the break a couple of times and got their chances. They got another goal at the end so it’s a hard one to take but it’s important that we keep trying to do the right things, keep trying to play our way because that’s what has got us so far this season and that’s what is hopefully going to keep us at the end of the season.
“It’s a frustrating one and a hard one to take but we will dust ourselves down and go again.”
As Derby chased the game in the second half, they left themselves slightly exposed at the back, which is to be expected.
It meant the Rams’ goalkeeper was called upon on a number of occasions as he kept out Connolly, Florian Balogun and Marcus Tavernier in a string of good stops.
“I’m going to be called upon at that stage of the game,” he admitted. “We’re chasing the game and they hit us on the break so it’s important I try and keep us in it the best I can.
“It didn’t work out this time. We ended up losing the game so it’s a frustrating one but we will look forward to the game against Peterborough at the weekend.”
But, it’s all about perspective for the goalkeeper. The Rams still sit four points behind Reading who occupy the position outside the relegation places and he is keen not to get too downhearted following the defeat at the Riverside Stadium.
“This doesn’t define our season,” he said. “It’s a blip in the road, there are still lots of games to pick up points from so we will dust ourselves down, keep playing the way we want to play and I’m sure we will pick up many points between now and the end of the season.”
A sold out allocation of more than 2,000 supporters made the journey north for the game against Boro and Allsop concluded by paying tribute to those who attended.
“They were fantastic again,” he commented. “I can’t speak highly enough of them. Every single game this season they’ve been brilliant."