'We are an almost team' - Matt Taylor's vent following Bristol Rovers' FA Cup exit

Bristol Rovers boss Matt Taylor believes his side are too much of an 'almost team' following tonight's FA Cup exit which sees back-to-back defeats for the Gas.

The hosts lost 3-1 at home to Norwich City in their FA Cup third-round replay at the Mem. "We are an almost team at the moment," said Taylor. "We almost save, almost an attacking moment for us but there was a counter attack. We can't stay as an almost group, myself as a manager, individually as players and collectively as a team we can't stay like that for too long or otherwise we will underachieve, we have only got the league to concentrate on now so we need to pick up some points pretty quickly."

Luke McCormick gave the Gas a deserved lead inside the opening 20 minutes with a fine volley past George Long. However the visitors equalised before the hour mark as Gabriel Sara bundled the ball across the line following a Sam Mccallum curling effort which initially hit the post. The Canaries doubled their lead moments later as Adam Idah dispatched from the penalty spot as Johnathon Rowe was brought down by Connor Taylor following a counter attack.

"The whole feel of the stadium changes, the whole feel of the game and then having to chase the game against that sort of opposition was difficult," said Taylor. "But credit that we did still create a couple of chances like I said Chris' chance but we were too open then from that point on, the shape and structure from team was spot on up until that point which is why it's even more frustrating certainly that second goal."

Kenny McLean rubbed salt into the wound for Taylor's side as he had time and space on the edge of the area, curling an effort pass the helpless Matt Cox. "I can forgive mistakes in relation to that first goal but in terms of an understanding and responsibility aspect in that moment for the second goal that was too poorer moment for me not to ignore it really and that can't happen," said Taylor.

"I was so please at half-time in terms of our first-half performance, where we were in the game and the chances we created obviously being ahead. Then in a space of less than 5 minutes in the second-half it kind of derailed, a switch off for their first goal and little bit of quality for them and they capitalized and then we're looking to get back in the game."

The 41-year-old post-match was visibly frustrated and also suggested that the absent Grant Ward was a huge reason to why the Gas couldn't deal with the Canaries' counter attacks. "We have had a corner kick ourselves and then end up defending a counter attack and giving away a penalty in such a short space of time.

"All that hard work and effort we put in a for good performance. All of a sudden turned into a difficult second-half and then we were chasing the game against a quality team. We had a quite good chance, Chris Martin towards the back post to get us back level but then we were always going to be open in those counter attacking moments," said Taylor.

The Gas must dust themselves down and go again as Blackpool visit the Mem on Saturday in League One.