Joey Barton admits Bristol Rovers' performance at Newport County was not good enough as the Gas slipped to their first defeat in six games.
James Waite scored the game's only goal, rifling beyond James Belshaw from 20 yards on 33 minutes. Rovers were unable to get into top gear and huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser. Luca Hoole came the closest to rescuing a point but his powerful header was met by a fine save by Nick Townsend in stoppage time.
The defeat – just the second in League Two of 2022 – left Rovers in ninth place, four points adrift of the play-off places with 12 games to play. Barton accepts his players fell short of the high standards they have set in recent weeks.
"I didn’t think we were as good as we can be," Barton said. "Too many of our usual good performers didn’t have good performances, so we adjusted at half time. We huffed and puffed in the second half.
"They were slowing the game down and running the clock down. For me the referee allowed a little too much time-wasting, but we kept huffing and puffing.
"We were nowhere near our best and we didn't get anything out of the game. If you want to come to these sides and take maximum points you have to play much better. We created a few moments but nowhere near enough dominance in terms of pressure to make them crack and get that goal.
"So, 12 (games) to go. Disappointed, but we pick ourselves up and go again Tuesday."
Rovers were dealt a significant blow at half time with Connor Taylor forced off with an injury. The 20-year-old lynchpin of Rovers' defence required treatment in the final seconds of the first half and he was unable to take part after the pause.
"(He) just rocked his ankle," Barton said. "We tried to strap it up and go again, but you’ve got to be careful with him.
"We had the opportunity there to get Ryan Loft on the park. I felt we needed a number nine on the pitch because we were chasing a goal. So, (it was) a little bit of Connor’s injury and a little bit tactical. Again we’ve huffed and puffed but we haven’t created enough."
Barton says he and his players are determined to respond with an improved showing at Crawley Town on Tuesday, but he warned that changes are likely after amid disappointed with some performances at Rodney Parade.
"We spoke in the dressing room and right across the board the lads were honest and knew that wasn’t good enough," he said.
"We didn’t hit our standard of performance and if you do that and you come to a side riding high you won’t pick any points up, so we must be better and hopefully Tuesday night we will be."
"There are lads who’ve been given opportunities today and we’ve got some good players who haven’t played to freshen them up and unfortunately (on) Tuesday night they’ll be giving the jersey back to people and they may not see it between now and the end of the season.
"Such has been the quality of some performances and, as I say, we’ve dropped three points here today but still 36 to play for in the season and we must be much better."
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