THE key moments in that 25-pass move at the iPro were obviously the last two passes and finish, but Craig Conway’s Herculean effort to keep the ball in play, not to mention his fantastic skill to keep possession, was the reason the goal went on to happen.

What stands out is how players react when they go behind, and on Saturday Conway and others stepped up to the plate.

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Although the shaky Derby weren’t comparable to the solid, organised Sheffield Wednesday, in both games there was no quick switch to the big hoof after conceding.

On Tuesday, despite a short period of chasing shadows, Rovers passed and moved the visitors about in the first half and finally created what seemed to be a certain goal from Marvin Emnes.

Come the second half Rovers needed to step it up, and they didn’t.

The changes that needed to be made (the drive and enthusiasm of Darragh Lenihan for the tired Danny Guthrie; the craft of Martin Samuelsen for the anonymous Ben Marshall) were either made too late or not at all.

But it was the bizarre decision to stop playing short passing football - and start pumping easily-read high balls - the moment the aerial threat of Sam Gallagher was sacrificed for the more technical one of Danny Graham, that curtailed all impetus until the last 15 minutes.

Although the real difference between the sides was the manner in which the only goal was scored: Sheffield Wednesday defended tight, closed down fast and allowed the likes of Emnes, Marshall and Conway no time to shift the ball and get a clear shot in.

Rovers presented two or three opportunities for such efforts besides the only goal.

Yes, Emnes’ goal should have stood, but Rovers ultimately fell just short against a decent, well-drilled side.

Let’s hope Owen Coyle can recognise where we are lacking. We are, for now, in a relegation battle so it is important that we are now beating the teams around us.

Taking a point on Saturday away at Birmingham City will be satisfactory at this juncture and Coyle can hopefully fine-tune the tactics during the international break which follows the trip to the Midlands.