Sam Szmodics says the players were ‘gutted’ for themselves, and the travelling fans, after the FA Cup quarter final defeat to Sheffield United.

Szmodics, scorer of Rovers’ second goal, felt the moments of fortune went with the hosts as they booked a spot at Wembley where they will meet Manchester City in the semi-final.

The Blades’ first goal was a moment of misfortune for Sam Gallagher, deflecting a Max Lowe shot into his own net, while at 2-1 up, Ryan Hedges hit the inside of the post.

Rovers too thought Jack Robinson should have received a second yellow card for a foul on Hedges, having been booked for the penalty award from which Ben Brereton put them ahead.

Tommy Doyle scored a fine winner for the Blades, though Rovers felt the game should have been stopped with Tyler Morton down on the floor.

Szmodics believes Rovers in time will reflect with pride on their performance, and cup run as a whole, as attentions revert back to the league campaign after the international break.

“We worked our socks off, played some great football at times,” Szmodics said.

“Maybe we could look at it and be a bit more clinical.

“The first goal for them is a massive deflection, and maybe the luck was with them.

“Hedgey has hit the post, the goalie has made a great double save, so we could have been three or 4-1 up.

“The boys are hurting.

“The travelling fans were amazing, goosebumps moments with them, and we’re gutted for them, gutted for ourselves.

“We have an international break and all our focus has to now be on securing that play-off place.”

An end-to-end game was settled by Doyle’s late strike, with Oli McBurnie having equalised for the Blades with eight minutes remaining.

It left Rovers with no reward for what was an otherwise excellent display, and Szmodics told Rovers TV: “It’s tough, the boys are finding it tough.

“We have had a hell of a season so far, we’ve come to Bramall Lane against a good Sheffield United team and given it a right go.

“We’re 2-1 up and then it’s not gone our way.

“The lad has hit one from 25 yards and it’s flown in, so it’s a tough one to take.”

Szmodics put Rovers 2-1 ahead on the hour mark, an excellent finish across Wes Foderingham after being played through by Sam Gallagher.

Rovers then had their best period of the match after Szmodics’ goal which he celebrated infront of the near 6,000 strong travelling support.

“It’s a great feeling scoring infront of 6,000 travelling fans at a place like Bramall Lane,” he added.

“Ultimately we came here to do a job and unfortunately it wasn’t our day.

“It means loads to us because they’ve travelled in their numbers.

“It was so loud, one of the loudest games I’ve played in during my career, and a lot of that from the Rovers fans and we’re gutted for our selves and them.

“It’s a day out at Wembley that we’ve missed out but I think we can be proud of how far we’ve come.”

Rovers hold a four-point gap to seventh-placed Norwich City, who they host in their second game back after the break, and with an extra fixture to play.

Despite the heartbreak of the FA Cup, the 27-year-old said: “All focus is on the league now.

“We’re in the play-off places, we have the break now to rest and reflect on it.

“We have to keep digging away and stay in that position.

“If we play how we have the last few weeks then I think we’ll be absolutely fine.

“We have to take the positives from this and focus on that play-off place.

“There are eight games in April, it would have been nice to get to Wembley and hopefully one day we can, but we have to rest up and take every game as it comes.”