DERRICK Williams admits Rovers simply left themselves with too much to do after a dismal start to the season ended with Championship relegation on the final day at Brentford.

Rovers picked up just two points from a winless opening seven games and have played catch up ever since.

Despite an impressive 3-1 win on the final day at Griffin Park, wins for Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City saw Rovers relegated to League One.

They picked up 22 points under Tony Mowbray, who took charge for the final 15 games of the season. That was the ninth-best record across the division during the same period and Williams was left in no uncertain terms how their problems came about.

“Our form over the last few games has shown that we should be higher up the league but at the start of the season we just weren’t good enough,” the club’s player of the season said.

“Everyone is gutted. We’re disappointed that we left it to the last day in the first place.

“We shot ourselves in the foot too many times really and we’re all gutted.”

A terrific travelling following of 1,600 roared Rovers on at Griffin Park, but ultimately the players fell short, despite clocking up just a fourth away success of the campaign.

And Williams, a summer signing from Bristol City, thanked those fans that travelled for their support.

“They were quality – and deserve a lot better than we gave them throughout the season,” he told the club’s official website.

“Even when they found out we were relegated you could still hear them singing when we were in the dressing room. All day they were loud and I just want to thank them.”

Rovers were safe for a portion of the first half after early goals from Charlie Mulgrew and Danny Guthrie put them two up at Brentford. But Forest took the lead just before half time and Mowbray’s men were always in the bottom three from then on.

Williams added: “We got wind in the second half that Birmingham were winning 1-0 and Forest were winning 3-0.

“We needed three goals and you’re still out there trying to do your best to get those goals and hope that the other games go your way.

“It was our fault, you can’t expect other teams to get you out of it, you have to do it yourselves and we didn’t do that.”