GARY Rowett was disappointed his Burton Albion lost to a soft goal at Northampton Town after battling to within sight of a point.
The Brewers had weathered an aerial bombardment from the Cobblers and looked set for a point when Adebayo Akinfenwa won it with just over 20 minutes left.
In one of only three League Two matches to escape the snow — thanks to a team of volunteers clearing the pitch and stands - Albion suffered an eighth league defeat of the season away from the Pirelli Stadium.
And Rowett was disappointed after almost masterminding a 0-0 draw at Sixfields.
“I felt the performance was enough to warrant a point,” said the Brewers boss. “I thought we played quite well.
“We matched them but maybe could’ve had a bit more quality in one or two areas and a few more balls into the box.
“I’ve told them not to be disheartened by it and to keep going.
“I’m disappointed because I thought we dealt with what they were going to do and I thought we did that really strongly with the team we had out.
“I’m not disappointed with the performance, I’m disappointed with the result.”
Rowett refused to criticse goalkeeper Dean Lyness after his error handed Akinfenwa an easy chance for the winner — with the keeper otherwise having a decent afternoon.
“I think he got caught in two minds,” said the Albion chief.
“First half there were couple when the ball went in the box and I was wondering whether he could come, but he probably made the right decision.
“But one he makes maybe not the right decision.
“I’m not going to have a go at him, he’s trying to do something.
“All I’d say to Deano there is just commit either way - either stay or come.
“He’s been great for us.
“I’m just disappointed with the way they’ve won it. You don’t mind if someone scores a screamer or if someone puts the ball in the box and someone scores a great header.
“But to leave him free to start with and then to be able to score with a little dinky header like that is disappointing.
Burton’s away form is a concern to Rowett after a eighth defeat on the road this season.
They have not won away since the 2-1 win at Plymouth Argyle on November 7.
He is not too disappointed with the manner of his side’s performance but wants to see an improvement in results to ease the pressure at home, where Albion have been excellent this season.
“At the moment away from home we’re just a bit unfortunate — we’re not playing badly but we’re just not getting the results,” he said.
“I’m not interested in the numbers away from home, I just want to win every game.
“At the moment we’re winning our home games but not winning our away games. It’s keeping us in there in the play-offs.
“I’m disappointed and it’s something I’m aware of and would like to improve on.
“Northampton, I’m sure, are feeling the same way (as their record is similar to ours).
The Brewers boss is experimenting with different formations away from the fortress that is the Pirelli Stadium, but reckons that formations may not be the answer and that the players need to help with the solution.
“If you look at it puresly from a results point of view, we’re not doing it,” said Rowett.
“We look better with a 4-5-1 formation, we look more solid but we’re not winning the games.
“It is a problem, but it only becomes a huge a problem if we stop winning our home games.
“We don’t want to look back at the end of the season and say our away form has cost us.
“At the moment it’s giving us a lot of pressure in the home games.
“We have to find a solution and think sometimes players have to find a solution as well.
“We played Aaron (Webster) in there to give us a bit of height and I thought he did well in there, particularly from their long throws.”
Rowett also paid tribute to the fans and staff of Northampton Town for making Sixfields playable and the surrounding areas safe for fans.
A team of volunteers pitched up at 8am on Saturday in freezing temperatures to clear the snow.
On a day when all but three matches in League Two were postponed, the Albion boss could be forgiven for wishing Burton’s game had been called off - but he was glad to see the match take place, even if it ended in disappointment.
“First and foremost, congratulations to Northampton for getting the game on - it’s a great achievement to do that and obviously we were unable to train on Friday, which wasn’t ideal, but they got the game on,” said Rowett.
“I’d rather play game than sit on our backsides in the snow.”
