OWEN Coyle admits the 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town is a game they would have lost by two or three goals earlier in the season as Rovers extended their unbeaten home run.

Kasey Palmer put the visitors in front after just five minutes when he headed in a left-wing corner as the Terriers started much the stronger.

Huddersfield could, and probably should, have led by more before Rovers levelled things up from the penalty spot thanks to Danny Graham’s fifth of the season.

Coyle said: “I thought it was very hard fought game and we had a very slow start against a very good team.

“They had led the league for several games and were in the play-off places coming in to it so we had to try and find a different way around them.

“We showed plenty of heart and endeavour, as we have in plenty of games recently, but we didn’t pass and move the ball as well as we have done and we have to be honest about that.

“That was a game that earlier in the season we would have lost by two or three goals but we have come a long way since then.

“We were out of sorts in terms of our passing but in the second half we had the better of the chances and with a better final ball and being a bit more clinical, we could have had another.

“Huddersfield had plenty of the ball but apart from one shot which Steeley (Jason Steele) tipped round, and a few corners and shots that we got blocks to, but in terms of real goalscoring chances we had the better of them.

“Sam Gallagher and Graham went close, we had two or three two against ones which we didn’t take advantage of so we were always a threat and that will only help us going forward.”

Rovers had started slowly and when asked if he feared his side could have been blown away in the opening stages, Coyle added: “You are always worried when you don’t play well and we didn’t start well.

“But we got the blocks in and stayed in the game.

“I always knew that with this group we were well capable of coming back.

“We’ve done it so many times, because we’ve got the heart and the spirit for the fight.

“We’re now 18 points from 12 games which is play-off form across the whole of the season so we know we’re getting better and getting in to an area of the league that we want to be.”