ROVERS Under-23s boss Damien Johnson insists his side will continue to work on improving their finishing after a disappointing 1-0 defeat at West Brom.

A fourth-minute penalty from Tyler Roberts proved the difference between the sides at Aggborough, with Rovers not having made it out of their own half by the time goalkeeper Andy Fisher sent the Baggies striker sprawling.

They missed chances to grab at least a point and Johnson said afterwards said: "It was a disappointing start from us – we need to start better.

"When you are away from home, the first five to 10 minutes you just want to keep the back door closed and we didn't do that.

"At the minute we don't look like we are going to score too many and that is an issue for us.

"We dominated for periods of the game, but we didn't make their keeper make enough saves and that is something that we have got to improve on if we want to win games.

"If you don't score goals you don't win games."

Johnson made one change, with Lewis Travis coming in for the injured Joe Grayson in midfield.

But they were behind quickly when Roberts was sent clear, went down under Fisher's challenge and then dispatched his spot-kick.

Rovers came back into it as the half wore on, with Lewis Mansell coming close to forcing home Connor Mahoney's free-kick.

Mansell had another chance from a Matty Platt cross but his header deflected wide.

Willem Tomlinson then tried his luck from 20 yards out, his shot rising just over the crossbar.

West Brom dominated for a spell after the restart, but the Rovers defence stood firm and they again found a foothold in the game.

Their best chances fell to Mansell and Joe Rankin-Costello, but they just couldn't find a way through.

Johnson added: "We were up against a strong side for this level, lads who have been in their first team.

"Between the two boxes there was nothing in it as we more than matched them, it is just that last little bit.

"Putting that ball in the net is the hardest bit of football, they are young lads, they are still learning and we'll keep on working."

Johnson's are back in Premier League 2 action next Monday when they face Aston Villa at Walsall FC's Banks's Stadium (.

West Brom: Rose, Wilson, McCourt, Donnellan, Fitzwater, O'Shea, Leko, Field (Barbir, 89), Roberts, Tayki (Sweeney, 85), McManaman.

Rovers: Fisher, Nyambe, Doyle, Travis, Platt, Wharton, Mahoney, Tomlinson, Mansell, Hardcastle (Rittenberg, 76), Rankin-Costello (Thomson, 67).