COLIN Todd blamed Town's 'diabolical' defending against set-pieces for their West Country derby defeat.

Three goals from dead-ball situations spelt trouble for Town as former County Ground favourite Mark Walters delivered pin-point crosses.

However, Todd said his side should have been able to come away with at least a point after squandering a series of chances.

Todd said: "What has killed us in this game is not in general play. It has been conceding goals from set-plays.

"We conceded one to a corner, which was a sloppy goal, one to a free-kick, which was bad defending, and then a penalty. You cannot afford to do that and that is what killed us.

"Up until they scored their second goal I thought we were playing quite well and could even have had two or three goals ourselves. What killed us was how we conceded goals. They were diabolical goals.

"The basics in football are that you have to be marking, you have to be attacking the ball and if it drops then somebody has to react. We do not react quick enough in either box."

Town did create a number of chances when only a goal down. Had one of those gone in then it may have been a different story.

"I thought we were well in the game during the first half," he said. "In terms of how we took the game to the opposition, we did well, but we needed that goal.

"A goal then would have set us up. We had opportunities to get it but both Giuliano Grazioli and Martin Williams missed good chances.

"When you come out for the second half 3-0 down you have a mountain to climb, but we stuck at it and had a lot of possession without hurting them.

"We did have chances. It was not as though we were overrun in the game, but in the second half it was very comfortable for Rovers."

Todd introduced Andy Williams for the second half after David Duke had struggled to get into the game.

It was a disappointing display from the young midfielder but Todd believes he still has a bright future ahead of him.

"Duke simply did not start," he said. "The kid has a bit of talent there but he just has not got the experience at the moment. I think you will find that he finds it a bit difficult out there at times.

"The lad has got ability and he will improve with time. He has a good future ahead of him. We just have to be patient."

Now Todd has to lift his side for the visit of Millwall.

"I have been in this situation before as a manager. It is what we get paid for and we have a lot of hard work to do," he said.

"When you are trying to gel a side together it is going to take time. I am not going to make excuses. I have just got to get the players to believe in themselves."