The nature of Bristol City’s winning goal frustrated Tony Mowbray as Rovers suffered a third league defeat at Ewood Park.

Eros Pisano came off the bench to score from two yards out with 11 minutes to play, holding off Ryan Nyambe, to turn in a Callum O’Dowda corner.

Mowbray was disappointed with his side’s role in that, and not dealing with the inswinging delivery, in a tight game which he felt his side failed to show enough quality in the final third.

The boss said: “It was always going to be a tough game against a team who have won a lot of matches on the bounce. We knew that it was going to be tough day, and one we thought it might be one to win 1-0.

“But ultimately it wasn’t to be. They defended well, are physical and carry a threat at the top end of the pitch.

“We worked extremely hard and had spells when we got on top and had four or five shots. It wasn’t to be our day.

“The nature of the defeat, from a set play, makes it more hurtful. We work hard on set plays, for and against, and to lose like that, from a ball in to our box, is frustrating for us all.”

Rovers had two attempts on target, but didn’t make the most of their good crossing positions, with Tomas Kalas and Adam Webster unmoved at the back for the visitors.

“There were one or two instances when we got in to fantastic positions but the last pass was overhit,” Mowbray added.

“We have lots of quality but couldn’t pick out that final pass and put the ball in to the net.

“But the nature of the goal they scored, if they pick you off on the counter and break away and cross the ball and a lad scores, then you say ‘great energy, great quality’.

“But it was just an inswinging corner and there was no contact from the goalkeeper or any of the defenders and it’s in our net.”

The win sees Rovers slip to 13th in the table, while the Robins extended their winning run to eight games as they kept up their hopes of remaining in the top six.

And Mowbray said: “They are a good side and you don’t win seven on the bounce if you’re not a good side.

“It was hard to play through to Bradley because of the way they block up the central midfield area, so we knew we were going to have to play off Danny at times.

“It was hard to create chances, as it was for them, and they had to play on the counter attack. They played off a big physical centre forward and with respect to our centre halves, we don’t have big headers of the ball, we have more cultured players at the back.

“It was a tough day, for them as well. But it’s upsetting for the team that we lost to the nature of the goal we did.”