ROVERS under-23s assistant boss David Dunn felt his side’s inability to adapt to the conditions was behind their 0-0 draw with Cardiff City in the Premier League Cup.

The Rovers youngsters were held to a goalless draw at the Leckwith Athletics Stadium on Monday, meaning they have won one, drawn one and lost one of their opening three group game fixtures.

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The match in south Wales was one short of chances but Dunn is hoping the development squad will benefit from the experience of playing on a difficult surface.

“We want to play and we try to play good effective football, but there are times when conditions aren’t always set up that way,” said Dunn.

“It was a lively pitch, it was bobbly, and most of the better chances - not that there were many for both teams - came from mistakes.

“Some of our players might go out on loan to the lower leagues and they might have to play on pitches like that so they have to make better decisions.

“And I thought at times we didn’t make good decisions, there is nothing wrong with turning teams, certainly on pitches like that.

“With the best will in the world you can’t play on those pitches, it is too difficult, so you’ve got to play the conditions and too many times I didn’t think we did it well enough.

“So it was a little bit disappointing, we wanted to play but the conditions didn’t allow for that, so we should have risen above and play the right football for that particular pitch and I don’t think we did that.”

Damien Johnson’s men, who are top of their Premier League Cup group alongside Burnley and Sunderland having played a game more than both those sides, are next in action on Monday night when they take on Stoke City at Leyland (7pm).